Purple Heart Monument

Ohio Veterans Memorial Park

In June of 2013 The Purple Heart monument was added to The Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park. The memorial is dedicated to all of those who served honorably and were wounded in service to our nation.

The following year, in May of 2014, the Purple Heart bench was dedicated, to complete The Purple Heart Memorial.

Honoring Ohio Veterans

War Department
The Adjutant General’s Office
Washington D.C.

The Purple Heart was originally established by General George Washington at Newburgh, 7 August 1782, during The War of the Revolution. The decoration was revived by the War Department on 22 February 1932, the two-hundredth anniversary of General Washington’s birth, thus paying respect to his memory and recognizing his military achievements. It is awarded to persons who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Military, are wounded in action against an enemy of The United States, or who since 6 December 1941 are killed in action, or die as a direct result of wounds received in action.

The following is a brief description of The Purple Heart:

The decoration consists of a purple enameled heart within a bronze border on which is mounted in relief a profile head of General Washington in military uniform. Above the enameled heart is the shield of Washington’s coat of arms between two sprays of leaves in green enamel. On the reverse below the shield and leaves without enamel, is a raised bronze heart with the inscription “For Military Merit”, under which is engraved the name of the recipient. The medal is suspended by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded from a silk moire ribbon of purple center with white edges.

We Wish To Extend a Very Special Thank You

Thank you to the family and friends of TEC 5 Stephen Szerecz U.S. Army Ranger 5th Battalion KIA June 6, 1944 D-Day Campaign Omaha Beach / Buried in Normandy, France and The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 699 – Akron, Ohio For making the Purple Heart section of the park possible.

The Memorials

Memorial pavers or Memorial Benches in honor of, and memory of, those who have been awarded the Purple Heart line the walkways around the Purple Heart Memorial. These pavers are available for you to have customied for your Hero.