The Town of Kittery Becomes a Purple Heart Town - January 22, 2024
At their Monday, January 22, 2024 meeting, the Kittery Town Council voted unanimously to designate the Town of Kittery as a Purple Heart Town.
The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in present use and was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by General George Washington in 1782. It was the first American service award or decoration made available to the common soldier and is specifically awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded or who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in combat with a declared enemy of the United States of America.
The purpose of being a Purple Heart Town is to express gratitude to the members of our community who were either wounded or killed in combat defending the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans, and to ensure we never forget. Becoming a Purple Heart community means Kittery will join the Purple Heart Trail, a national series of roads, bridges, highways and other monuments and trails honoring soldiers who have received a purple heart medal.
In addition to joining the Purple Heart Trail, the Town of Kittery will install signs proclaiming the designation at various locations throughout town. Signage is expected to be installed late spring/early summer 2024, after the ground thaws.
The Town of Kittery is extremely proud to become one of the approximately 900 Purple Heart locations in the United States, honoring 1.6 million Purple Heart recipients across the country.
