Pawnee, Oklahoma - Purple Heart City Designation

Pawnee is a city in north-central Oklahoma with a population of 2,179 (2013 Census). It is the county seat of Pawnee County, and is named for the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Pawnee, Oklahoma was the third city in the State of Oklahoma to be designated as a Purple Heart City on August 3, 2015. The designation took place during a scheduled City Council meeting following the reading of a City Proclamation declaring Pawnee a Purple Heart City. Later, a Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Special Recognition Award, declaring Pawnee, Oklahoma as a Purple Heart City, was presented, during a special ceremony, to the Mayor by MOPH, Chapter 820 representatives. Other Purple Heart recipients, including city veterans, attended the ceremony. The Special Recognition Award reads: THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD IS BESTOWED WITH PRIDE TO THE CITY OF PAWNEE, OKLAHOMA FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SUPPORT HONORING AMERICA’S COMBAT WOUNDED VETERANS BECOMING THE PURPLE HEART CITY. PRESENTED BY THE PATRIOT MEMBERS OF CHAPTER 820 THE DEPARTMENT OF OKLAHOMA MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, U.S.A. A formal City of Pawnee Proclamation was read by Mayor Brad Sewell at the City Council meeting on August 3, 2015, as follows: WHEREAS, the people of City of Pawnee, Oklahoma have great admiration and the utmost gratitude for the men and women who have selflessly served their country and this community in the Armed Forces; and WHEREAS, 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; and WHEREAS, the Purple Heart 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 paid the ultimate sacrifice in combat with a declared enemy of the United States of America; and WHEREAS, the mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill among the combat-wounded veteran members and their families, promote patriotism, support legislative initiatives, and ensure the enduring memory of Armed Forces members killed or wounded in action; and WHEREAS, the Pawnee area has a large, highly-decorated veteran population including many Purple Heart recipients, and WHEREAS, Pawnee appreciates the sacrifices our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms and believe it is important that we acknowledge them for their courage and show them the honor and support they have earned. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Brad Sewell, Mayor of the City of Pawnee, do hereby proclaim the City of Pawnee as A PURPLE HEART CITY and encourage the citizens of the City of Pawnee to show their appreciation for the sacrifices of the Purple Heart recipients have made in defending our freedoms, to acknowledge their courage, and to show them the honor and support they have earned. Passed and approved this 3rd day of August, 2015. The Proclamation is signed by Brad Sewell, Mayor, attested by Tammy Todd, City Clerk, and sealed. Distinctive highway signs announcing the city’s status as a Purple Heart City are placed on the primary entrances to the city (US Hwy 64/Harrison St. west & OK State Hwy 18/4th St./Sewell Dr. north & US Hwy 64/OK State Hwy 18 east & south 4th St.). (Note: The process of being designated and formally recognized as a Purple Heart City by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is based on a number of criteria and is a cooperative venture between the city and the MOPH. The process begins with the recognition by the city that a number of its citizens have been awarded the Purple Heart as a result of serving as a member in, or with the Armed Forces of the United States, and having been killed or wounded, or died of wounds while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force, or as a result of international terrorism, or being a Prisoner of War. The city then formally proclaims itself as a Purple Heart City that appreciates the sacrifices of its Purple Heart recipients and pledges to honor and support them. The MOPH prepares a formal certification and presents a Special Recognition Award to the city to recognize their special status. Local MOPH chapters provide distinctive Purple Heart City signs for display on major roadway entrances to the city. The MOPH pays for all costs associated with the designation, procurement, installation and maintenance of signs. There is no cost to the municipality.) (Note: MOPH was chartered by Congress in 1958, as a veterans’ organization. Members are men and women who were awarded the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is America’s oldest military decoration, dating from 1782. MOPH National Headquarters is located in Springfield, Virginia. The Purple Heart City designation is a program initiative of MOPH.)