Albany, Dougherty Purple Heart Trail signs dedicated at ceremony

ALBANY — The city of Albany and Dougherty County became part of the Purple Heart Trail recently, a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that gives tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal. A dedication ceremony marking the occasion was held at the Veterans Park Amphitheatre on Thursday.

The ceremony included veterans, Purple Heart recipients, various members of veteran groups, as well as city and county officials.

“Today’s ceremony is to dedicate Purple Heart signs that the City Commission and the Dougherty County Commission have both approved to put up at the major entranceways coming into Dougherty County and Albany,” said program chairman Marvin Mixon. “These signs are to designate Albany and Dougherty as a Purple Heart city and county.”

According to Mixon, the Purple Heart Trail creates visual reminders for motorists who use the road system that others have paid a high price for their freedom to travel and live in a free society. Signs placed at various locations annotate those roads and highways where legislation has been passed to designate parts of the national road system as The Purple Heart Trail. The actual format and design of the signs vary from state to state.

“The ladies with the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) found out about the national Purple Heart Trail, and they decided to come up with a program,” said Mixon. “It’s something that the American Legion has been wanting to do, we just haven’t been able to do it until now.”

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of an enemy and posthumously given to the next-of-kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“The Purple Heart is one of the oldest medals in America,” said recipient MSgt. William Hamby, USMC retired. “It actually started with George Washington and over the years it kind of faded away. But it was picked up again in World War I. Since that time, anyone who has served in the military that has been injured or killed is eligible for that medal. I received a Purple Heart for my service in North Korea on Dec. 5, 1950.”

The heritage that the Purple Heart represents is sacred to those who understand the price paid to wear it.

“The Purple Heart is a form of recognition,” said Hamby. “We see a lot of medals and decorations, but if you see someone wearing a purple heart or you know he has one, you have a little more esteem for him. That means he served his country and left a little blood along the way.”

According to Hamby, the dedication of the Purple Heart signs is a way to recognize and honor those who have served; men and women who are all too often forgotten.

“The sign dedication is an excellent idea,” he said. “Most people in the military, regardless of whether they were wounded or not, receive little or no recognition. I am glad this is happening.”

The road signs, with the image of a rich purple heart bordered with gold around a bust of George Washington in the center and a coat of arms at the top, will soon adorn thoroughfares in Albany and Dougherty County.