Erie, PA, Designated as Official Purple Heart City

Read the official press release below.

On Friday, November 17, Erie Mayor Joe Schember was joined by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Commodore Perry Chapter 197 and guests to recognize Erie as an official Purple Heart City. The purpose of being a Purple Heart City is to honor military personnel wounded or killed in combat. The Purple Heart is specifically a combat decoration and it is our nation’s oldest military medal. It was first created by General George Washington in 1782 and was known as the Badge of Military Merit.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is a Congressionally chartered organization that supports combat-wounded veterans and works to ensure that Americans never forget the sacrifices made by U.S. military personnel.

Mayor Schember read a special proclamation commemorating the occasion, noting that the Erie metropolitan area has a large, highly decorated Veteran population including many Purple Heart recipients. The Mayor encouraged the citizens of the City of Erie to show their appreciation for the sacrifices that the Purple Heart recipients have made in defending our freedoms, to acknowledge their courage, and to show them the honor and support they have earned.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Commodore Perry Chapter 197 Commander Bob Hill, Trustee Brian Fuller, and Treasurer Sean Kazmierczak coordinated the effort and presented the Mayor with special Purple Heart City road signs to mark the honor.

Erie is now one of only three cities in Pennsylvania to receive Purple Heart City designation and amongst 900 cities in the United States.

For more information about The Military Order of the Purple Heart please visit www.purpleheart.org. Photo caption: On November 17, 2023, Erie was recognized as one of three cities in Pennsylvania to receive a Purple Heart City designation. Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Commodore Perry Chapter 197 shown from left: Treasurer Sean Kazmierczak; Commander Bob Hill; and Trustee Brian Fuller, joined Mayor Joe Schember, at middle right, for the ceremony in City Council Chambers in Erie City Hall.