Ottawa County: Museum working to join Purple Heart Trail

Published by news@presspubli... on Fri, 01/20/2023 - 4:00pm

By:

Larry Limpf

The Ottawa County Museum is making preparations to join the Purple Heart Trail.
The museum’s board of directors met Wednesday to approve a proclamation designating it as a Purple Heart Trail Museum and will begin collecting information about recipients of the Purple Heart medal in the county.
The medal is awarded to members of the armed forces wounded in combat with an enemy force and posthumously to next of kin of those killed in combat.
The trail was established in 1992 with a resolution approved during the Military Order of the Purple Heart national convention to recognize recipients.
David Barth, a board member of the Ottawa County Museum, is conducting research and gathering photographs and other information about local recipients for a Purple Heart history booklet – a requirement for being designated a Purple Heart Trail Museum.
Barth is providing forms for any county recipient or family member who would like to submit information. Respondents are asked to submit copies of DD-214 or DD-215 discharge papers, general or permanent orders listing the award, or WD-AGO 53-55 (WWII discharge papers).
Other criteria for the museum to be so designated include holding a meet-and-greet event to share the information with recipients and family members; setting aside August 7 as National Purple Heart Day to honor the service of the men and women who have earned the Purple Heart, and create a Purple heart display for the museum.
Barth said he can be contacted by email at drb360@gmail.com or by calling 419-357-2057. Information is also available at the Ottawa County Veterans Service office at 419-898-2089.
The museum board is partnering with the Ottawa County commissioners and the veterans service office to designate the county as a Purple Heart County to recognize local recipients.
An event for that designation is tentatively planned for May 20.
The Ottawa County Museum is located at 126 W. Third St., Port Clinton, OH.
The trail originates at a monument in Mt. Vernon, Virginia near the burial site of George Washington.
The Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit was established by then General Washington during the Revolutionary War at Newburgh, New York on Aug. 7, 1782.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart was started in 1932 and chartered by an act of congress in 1958.