Monday (Aug. 7) is “Purple Heart Day.” Pinellas Commissioners are urging that a portion of State Road 60 be named a “Purple Heart Highway.”

PINELLAS COUNTY – The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday (Aug. 1) presented a proclamation designating Pinellas as a Purple Heart County.

The Commission also recognized Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day in Pinellas County. Purple Heart Day is nationally recognized on Aug. 7 as well.

“Our local community, state and nation owe a deep amount of gratitude and respect to all members of the Armed Forces, especially those who have been wounded or killed in combat and honored with the Purple Heart Medal,” Commission Chair Janet C. Long said.

The board presented the proclamation to local and state partner agencies during today’s meeting. Those represented included: Pinellas County Veterans Services, Military Order of the Purple Heart, JFK Chapter 1963, Pinellas County Veterans Council, Veterans Art Center, USF St. Petersburg Veterans Services, Clearwater Vet Center, St. Petersburg Vet Center, city of St. Petersburg Veterans, Social and Homeless Services, office of U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, office of U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis, office of State Representative Wengay Newton, and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Additionally, the commission expressed its support for the designation of the portion of S.R. 60 between the Hillsborough County line and Mandalay Avenue in Pinellas County as a trail within the National Purple Heart Trail network, and naming that portion of S.R. 60 a “Purple Heart Highway.”

With the roadway designation, Pinellas County requests that the Florida Department of Transportation place and maintain appropriate markers designating the highway at the site of the Florida Veterans Memorial Plaza at Crest Lake Park, the Hillsborough/Pinellas County line along the Courtney Campbell Causeway and Mandalay Avenue within the city of Clearwater.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA has established a national network of Purple Heart Trails consisting of major highways and roadways that lead to patriotic sites. The Purple Heart Medal was established Aug. 7, 1782, to honor military personnel wounded or killed in combat.

For information about the Purple Heart, go to purpleheartfoundation.org.

Photo of presentation at the Pinellas County Commission meeting courtesy of Pinellas County Marketing and Communications. Photo of Purple Heart from Tampa Bay Reporter files.

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