Veterans

Logan County Community comes together on Purple Heart Day

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[August 11, 2018]  Tuesday August 7th was Purple Heart Day across the country. It was a day to acknowledge and remember the sacrifices of soldiers in all military branches who were wounded or lost their lives from wounds received in military battle.

In Lincoln, a Purple Heart Ceremony was held at the All Veteran’s Park on Union Street. The day included laying a purple heart-shaped wreath at the monument in honor and remembrance.

The Tuesday evening event was hosted by Joe and Melanie Schaler. In this area, the Hayes-Krell Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 159 is led by Joe, who works throughout the region to promote recognition of Purple Heart recipients. Melanie is the head of the MOPH auxiliary.

The evening began with an invocation offered by Chase Dillworth, who was introduced by Melanie Schaler. After prayer, the group was asked to stand and remove their caps as the recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Melanie then introduced Sheralyn and Sadie Bolton, who performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Joe Schaler took the podium then for the balance of the program. He noted that this was the third and final ceremony hosted by MOPH in honor of the Purple Heart. He noted that the weather had been somewhat threatening prior to the third event, but that at the right time the weather had cleared and a pleasant breeze had come to the park. Schaler reflected that the change in the weather on that evening was an answer to prayer.

Schaler went on then to speak on the history of the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart gets its origins from the Military Badge of Merit, first issued by George Washington on August 7th, 1782. Washington was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He designated that the badge of purple with white lace be awarded and placed over the left breast of the honored solider. At that time, Washington awarded three such badges, and authorized officers to issue the Badge of Merit as they deemed appropriate.

The badge was not seen again then until after World War I. An attempt to revive the badge in 1927 failed, but in 1931 General Douglas MacArthur reopened work on a new design of the badge. With the completion of that design, the badge was then renamed the Purple Heart.

The first recipient of the Purple Heart was General MacArthur. After the award was reinstated in 1932, several U. S. Army soldiers from prior wars applied for and received the award. At that time the award was only for members of the Army, but in 1942 the award was extended to all branches of military service. Purple Hearts were given to many soldiers who were at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked by the Japanese.

Schaler related that while the Purple Heart has changed and evolved over more than two centuries, the one thing has not changed is that the medal is given in recognition of personal sacrifice. Currently close to two million Purple Heart medals have been given out, and currently 500,000 of those recipients are yet living.

Schaler said that during the noon time ceremony held in the Springfield area, the state of Illinois had been once again recognized as a Purple Heart state. He noted that Illinois was the fourth state in the nation to take on the designation. He said that he and the MOPH had worked to make Illinois the first, but missed the mark slightly.

Schaler recounted the work of the MOPH saying that through the organization services are provided to veterans, such as helping with claim filing with the Veteran’s Administration, working to end homelessness, offering employment assistance, Junior ROTC and other scholarships awards, suicide awareness, and Americanism.

The MOPH is also responsible for establishing the Purple Heart Trail. He noted that Logan County is the only county in Illinois where every community has designated itself as a Purple Heart Community, making our county a very important part of the Purple Heart Trail in Illinois.

We must remember not just on Purple Heart Day, not on Memorial Day, not on Veteran’s Day, but every day, all those who gave all their tomorrows for our today.

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As Schaler drew to a close, he said he wanted to thank and acknowledge the local Patriot Guard members whom he said is ever present, ever willing to honor our soldiers. He said he wanted to honor two who were present and had been present at the ceremonies throughout this day. He presented to Mike Fulk and Bruce Martin patches as Proud Supporters of the Purple Heart.

Schaler also offered a quick thank you to Devin Vannoy, who is always willing to come and set up his sound system for MOPH programs.

Senior Vice Commander Peter Dowding joined Melanie Schaler for the laying of the heart shaped wreath at the monument.

Joe Schaler said, “We do this not only for our Purple Heart Veterans, but for all veterans. For those who are here today and have received a Purple Heart, we carry a special duty that we have to keep the faith, have to keep this alive, and can’t let America forget this. Any one of us could have been gone, any veteran at any moment could have been called up to serve, and maybe not been with us today. We cannot forget that.”

Schaler then introduced Pat Snyder whom he said had written a benediction for the very first Purple Heart event held in Logan County, and he asked that she come to the podium to once again read that benediction.



 

After the reading, taps was played by Sadie Bolton and Eli Morris, and the service came to a close.

During the program, Schaler quoted President Calvin Coolidge, “No person was ever honored for what they received. Honor has been their reward for what they gave.”

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All”


Songwriters Billy Ray Cyrus & Cindy Cyrus

[Nila Smith]




 

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