- October 11, 2024
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The Palm Coast City Council has proclaimed Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day.
United States Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Charles Hanger accepted the proclamation on behalf of other veterans after council member Cathy Heighter read the proclamation at an Aug. 1 council meeting.
“This is truly an honor for me to be able to present this purple heart proclamation,” Heighter said.
Her son, Army Private First Class Raheen Tyson Heighter, was a Purple Heart recipient, she said. He died on July 24, 2003, while serving in Iraq.
Hanger challenged Palm Coast residents and veterans to reach out to a veteran’s association and see how they can help.
“Just like any church or other civic organization ... we need people to make it work, and work effectively,” he said.
Hanger served in the Army as a combat medic from 1969-1971, during the Vietnam War.
In addition to the Purple Heart, he also received, among others, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
The city chose Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day because General George Washington had established the medal on Aug. 7, 1782, at Newburgh, New York, according to the city’s proclamation.
“It was the first award made available to the common soldier to recognize outstanding valor or merit,” the proclamation said.
An estimated 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded.
“Without the veterans,” Hanger said, “you don’t have a history, you don’t have a government.”
