By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Yukon has become a “Purple Heart City.”
The Yukon City Council made it official on April 6 when Mayor Shelli Selby made the declaration inside the council chambers of the Centennial Building, 12 S 5th.
Council members presented a “Purple Heart City” proclamation to Mustang’s Amy Stout, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Post 382.
In doing so, the City of Yukon acknowledged the sacrifices that courageous Purple Heart recipients have made “defending our freedoms”.
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,” said Mayor Selby, reading from the proclamation.
The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in personal use. It was created in 1782 by General George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit.
Yukon citizens have “great admiration and gratitude for the men and women who have selflessly served” their country and community in the armed forces, according to Selby.
‘COMING TO THE CITIES’
Stout has been a member of the VFW Auxiliary for more than 20 years.
“We wanted every city across Oklahoma to become a ‘Purple Heart City’,” she said.
The State of Oklahoma was officially declared a “Purple Heart State” on Nov. 1, 2019.
“We’re taking it a step forward,” Stout explained. “We’re coming to the cities.”
The VFW Auxiliary wants to reach out to families of Purple Heart recipients and the recipients themselves across Oklahoma.
“We want to share this day with them, because it’s all about them,” Stout added. “We don’t want them to forget. They made a sacrifice where we couldn’t, but we’re standing with them.”
The City of Yukon “has stepped up to the plate” over the past eight year to support its veterans, said Ward 1 City Council Member Rick Cacini.
“We’re doing everything we can to help those veterans who have served our country,” said Cacini, founder the curator of the Yukon Veterans Museum. “I thank our mayor for signing this proclamation.”
A “Purple Heart City” plaque will be provided to the City of Yukon and Stout will donate two signs. Other signs may be purchased.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned with Yukon Purple Heart recipients “to show that our community supports our veterans,” Mayor Selby added.
