Guthrie, Oklahoma - Purple Heart City Designation

Guthrie is a city in north-central Oklahoma with a population of 10,908 (2013 Census). It is the county seat of Logan County, and was the first territorial capital of Indian Territory, and then the first capital of the State of Oklahoma. A Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Special Recognition Award, recognizing Guthrie, Oklahoma as the fourth city in the State of Oklahoma to be designated as a Purple Heart City, was presented during a special ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016. The presentation took place in Guthrie, several months after the signing of the City Proclamation declaring itself a Purple Heart City on April 19, 2016. Presenting the Award were Sergeant First Class (SFC) James Battles, Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) and Sergeant (SGT) Mike Manning, U.S. Army, the Commander and Vice-Commander of the MOPH, Chapter 820. Receiving the Award on behalf of the City of Guthrie was Mayor (and U.S. Air Force Veteran) Gentling. Other Purple Heart recipients, and city veterans, attended the ceremony. The MOPH Award reads: THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD IS BESTOWED WITH PRIDE TO THE CITY OF GUTHRIE, 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 DEPARTMENT OF OKLAHOMA MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART U.S.A. A formal City of Guthrie, Oklahoma Proclamation was proclaimed by Mayor Steven J. Gentling on April 19, 2016, as follows: WHEREAS, the people of City of Guthrie, in the State of Oklahoma desire to recognize and honor its citizens who have selflessly served their country and community through the United States 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 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 initiative, and more importantly – make sure we never forget; and WHEREAS, Guthrie has a large, highly-decorated veteran population including many Purple Heart recipients; and WHEREAS, Guthrie 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, Steven J. Gentling, Mayor of the City of Guthrie, do hereby proclaim the City of Guthrie as: A PURPLE HEART CITY and encourage the citizens of the City of Guthrie 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. Dated this 19th day of April, 2016. The Proclamation is signed by Steven J. Gentling, Mayor, City of Guthrie 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 77/Wentz St. north/Division St. south, & OK State Hwy 33/Noble Ave.). (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.)