[This is from a town press release]

Photo: The image for a Purple Heart community.

Veteran Service Officer Bob Upton has announced Belmont will be formally recognized as a Purple Heart Community by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

A ceremony of acceptance to the Military Order of the Purple Heart will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Friday April 22, at the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave. 

Chartered by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although membership is restricted to the combat wounded, the organization supports all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers.

Belmont officially proclaimed itself a Purple Heart Community on Dec. 14, 2015. In recognition of this distinction Leo Agnew, Commander of the Massachusetts Division of the Military Order of the Purple Heart will present the town with its Certificate of Recognition.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.

The Veteran Service Office is reaching out to all Purple Heart recipients and/or their family members to attend this event. The public is invited to attend this event and to join with us in honoring and showing our appreciation to our Purple Heart recipients on this important occasion.

For more information please contact VSO Bob Upton at 617-993-2725 or by email to rupton@belmont-ma.gov

Share This Article