Local Purple Heart recipients James Bouchard (left) and Charles Coleman (right) were honored for their service and participated in the raising of the Purple Heart flag outside of Memorial Hall.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
NORTHAMPTON — Aug. 7 was National Purple Heart Day and the Northampton Veterans Council led a gathering at Memorial Hall in honoring the recipients of America’s oldest military decoration.
Joining the council was Central Hampshire Services Director Steven Connor, the VFW Post 8006 guard based in Florence, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and some members of the public, to honor the day and those who have been wounded or killed in action while serving the country’s military.
Two local living Purple Heart recipients — Charles Coleman and James Bouchard — were honored during the ceremony and assisted in the raising of the Purple Heart flag outside Memorial Hall. Bouchard was also a member of the Post 8006 Firing Squad on hand for the ceremony.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
Northampton was officially designated a Purple Heart City in December 2013 by the Massachusetts Military Order of the Purple Heart, and 11 of the main entrances into the city of Northampton and the entrance to the VA medical center in Leeds have signs designating Northampton as a Purple Heart City.
President of the Northampton Veterans Council Tom Pease shared a few remarks during the ceremony on what the day means.
“Today, [Aug.] 7, we honor, and we respect those soldiers, men and women, that have passed away in the defense of our country. They’ve been awarded the Purple Heart. We are also here today to honor the living recipients of the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded to anyone that has shed blood for their country, for the freedom of our country. Today, it’s not a celebration — it’s an honor. Today, we recognized our Purple Heart recipients. After today, we’ll all go home. But every single day, if you’re a Purple Heart recipient, every day is a Purple Heart day for you. You will always wear the scars, whether they are physical or mental. You are the one that was awarded the Purple Heart in the defense of our country so that we may enjoy these freedoms. In a world that we think is upside down and turned around, it’s not. We are the freest nation in the world, thanks to those who have shed blood for our freedom.”
