Veterans Services To Unveil Purple Heart Monument Aug. 7

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — To commemorate National Purple Heart Day on Wednesday, Aug. 7, Pinellas County Veterans Services will unveil a Purple Heart Monument honoring men and women wounded in the nation’s wars.

The public is invited to attend the event at 10 a.m. at the War Veterans’ Memorial Park Sundial Plaza, 9600 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg.

The service will include a presentation by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Honor Guard and remarks from keynote speaker Lance Cpl. Michael Delancey, founder of Pinellas Park’s Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch.

The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to service men and women wounded or who gave their lives in combat. National Purple Heart Day commemorates the creation of the military decoration. In 2017, the Pinellas County Commission designated Pinellas County a Purple Heart County for outstanding recognition of community members who gave their lives or were wounded in combat.

War Veterans’ Memorial Park is a memorial honoring military veterans. The Purple Heart Monument will stand in Sundial Plaza along with five plaques representing each of the military branches and a Battlefield Cross Monument honoring Pinellas County’s fallen military service members.