- January 17, 2025
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Flagler County commissioners designated Aug. 7, 2021, as Purple Heart Day and the month of August as Purple Heart Month during a County Commission meeting held Aug. 2.
Commissioners read a brief proclamation explaining the decoration's history: The Purple Heart is also known as the Badge of Military Merit and is America's oldest military decoration.
Established by George Washington in 1782 to recognize outstanding valor or merit, it fell into disuse until it was resurrected by President Herbert Hoover in 1932 to recognize service members wounded or killed by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.
Flagler County has been a Purple Heart Community since 2018. The designation is granted by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Flagler County has opened the nomination period for its Veteran of the Year Award, which honors a living veteran who has used the leadership skills learned in service to improve the community through volunteerism.
Nominations for the Colonel Gary E. DeKay Flagler County Veteran of the Year Award are accepted Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 each year. The awardee will be recognized at the county's Veterans Day ceremony.
To be eligible, veterans must:
Veterans may be awarded for a single act or for continuous service. Previous recipients of the award are not eligible.
Nominations must be postmarked by Sept. 30. For nomination procedures, go to https://bit.ly/37dVwyH.
