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 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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