Ottawa County Museum Continues to Honor Purple Heart Veterans

 On August 7, 1782, in the waning days of the Revolutionary War, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit. Prevented by the Continental Congress from granting commissions and promotions in rank to his soldiers, Washington hoped to encourage and honor meritorious service with this special award. The honored soldier was to wear “over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace and binding.”

After the war, the award of merit was nearly forgotten until the 20^th century when it was revived at the bicentennial of Washington’s birth. In 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the award for all armed services and also to be given posthumously. Congress chartered the Purple Heart Medal in 1958. Presently, more than 1.7 million Purple Hearts have been awarded to our armed forces.

David Barth, a member of the board of directors of the Ottawa County [Ohio]Museum is researching and collecting information and photographs of Purple Heart recipients with connections to Ottawa County. He is asking those who have received the award and the family members of deceased recipients to fill out a Purple Heart Registry form. Those forms will be included in a book that is updated twice each year – August and February.

Mr. Barth can be reached at drb360@gmail.com or by phone at 419-357-2057.

The Ottawa County [Ohio] Museum held its first Purple Heart Day ceremony earlier this year. Thirty-five recipients and families were honored. Their information was compiled in a book titled “Ottawa County’s Heroes: The Stories of the Life and Service of Those with Ties to Ottawa County who were Recipients of the Purple Heart Medal.” This resource book is available for viewing at each county library, Ottawa County Veteran Services Department, and the Ottawa County Museum (126 W. Third St., Port Clinton, Ohio) 

                    

The Purple Heart Medal criteria has gone through many changes over the years. Presently it is awarded to members of the armed forces wounded in combat with an enemy force, posthumously to next of kin of those killed in combat, and those wounded or who died while a prisoner of war (2008).

The Ottawa County Museum has the distinction of of being one of only 15 museums across the nation designated as a Purple Heart Trail Museum. The trail begins at Mount Vernon near the grave site of George Washington. Each trail museum maintains a database of Purple Heart recipients and creates a museum display. Each trail museum honors those who have received the medal at a ceremony held each August 7, the National Purple Heart Day.