purple heart city

 

New signs to highlight Danbury's designation as 'Purple Heart City'

by Zack Murdoch Danbury Newstimes (Monday, 8/6/18)

DANBURY -- Local volunteers are raising awareness about Danbury veterans with three new signs commemorating the city's designation as a Purple Heart City near the Danbury War Memorial.

Danbury was named a Purple Heart City in 2016 and is one of only four municipalities in the state -- until New Milford joins later this week -- with the designation to honor service members wounded in combat or family members of those killed in action.

The signs carry both the seal of the city and an image of the iconic award and will stand at the Memorial Drive and Lions Way entrances to Rogers Park to remind residents of veterans' sacrifice.

Few civilians know that Danbury is a Purple Heart City, let alone that Aug. 7 is Purple Heart Day across the country, volunteer organizer Lee Teicholz said.

"It's only fitting that these signs be placed in the vicinity of the war memorials and the Patrick R. Waldron Veterans Hall to show our Purple Heart recipients that we appreciate the sacrifices that they have made for us," Teicholz said.

The signs cap Teicholz's years-long effort to help highlight veterans in the city, including the Veterans Walkway of Honor and two parking spaces dedicated to Purple Heart recipients at the Danbury War Memorial and recreation center. His father won two Purple Heart medals fighting in Europe in World War II and his son now serves in the Connecticut National Guard.

"It's nice and I feel good that I was able to accomplish it for our veterans, especially the purple heart veterans," he said.

The Danbury War Memorial Association paid for the $400 signs and executive director Justin Calitro hopes they help raise awareness and support for local veterans.

"Danbury has a large, highly decorated veteran population, including many Purple Heart recipients, and appreciates the sacrifices the Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms," Mayor Mark Boughton said. The city "believes it is important that we acknowledge them for their courage and show them the honor and support they have earned."

New Milford will become the next Connecticut town to obtain the Purple Heart City designation at a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Roger Sherman Town Hall on Main Street. Clinton, Coventry and Guilford also have been designated Purple Heart communities in addition to Danbury and New Milford.