Stillwater, Oklahoma - Purple Heart City Designation

Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma with a population of 47,186 (2013 Census). It is the county seat of Payne County, and the home of the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma was the second city in the State of Oklahoma to be designated a Purple Heart City. A City Proclamation, declaring itself a Purple Heart City, was presented during a special ceremony on April 6, 2015, during a scheduled City Council meeting at City Hall. Gary Lewis, Adjutant, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Chapter 820 in Stillwater was presented a copy of the Proclamation by Mayor John Bartley. Other Purple Heart recipients, including city WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Ron du Bois, attended the ceremony. Later, a MOPH Special Recognition Award, declaring Stillwater, 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 STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SUPPORT HONORING AMERICA’S COMBAT WOUNDED VETERANS, BECOMING THE PURPLE HEART CITY. PRESENTED BY THE PATRIOT MEMBERS OF OKLAHOMA CHAPTER 820 MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART U.S.A. The formal City of Stillwater Proclamation was read by Mayor John Bartley at the City Council meeting on April 6, 2015, as follows: WHEREAS, the citizens of Stillwater have great admiration and 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; and WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater appreciates the sacrifices our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms and acknowledges those men and women for their courage by showing our support and honor. NOW, THEREFORE, I John W. Bartley, Mayor of the City of Stillwater, do hereby proclaim the City of Stillwater as A PURPLE HEART CITY. IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand caused the Great Seal of the City of Stillwater to be affixed this 6th day of April, 2015. The Proclamation is signed by Mayor Brantley, attested by Marcy Lamb, City Clerk, and Sealed. Distinctive highway signs announcing the city’s status as a Purple Heart City were subsequently placed on the primary roadway entrances to the city (US Hwy 177/Perkins Rd./Washington St. north & OK State Hwy 51/6th 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.)