|
|
|
The Purple Heart Trail has been marked on Highway 101
|
 |
The Purple Heart is
awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S who are wounded by an
instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of
kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received
in action. The heritage it represents is sacred to those who understand the price paid to wear it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The current Purple Heart medal was developed by General Douglas MacArthur in 1932. The design is made in the shape of a rich purple heart bordered with gold, with a bust of Washington in the center and the Washington coat-of-arms at the top. |
|
What is the Purple Heart Trail?
The Purple Heart Trail was established in 1992 by the Congressionally sanctioned Military Order of the Purple Heart to be a symbolic trail throughout all 50 states to commemorate and honor all men and women who have been wounded or given their lives in combat while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The Purple Heart Trail originates in Mount Vernon, Virginia, and traverses the United States to California. To date, more than 20 states have implemented the trail.
The Purple Heart Trail accomplishes this honorary goal by creating a visual reminder to those 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 varies from state to state. There are currently designated sections in 20 states as well as Guam.
In 2008, the local Marine Corps League, Detachment #680 approached Assemblyman Blakeslee’s office to spearhead an initiative to designate the 115-mile portion of Highway 101, from San Ardo to Los Alamos, as a portion of the National Purple Heart Trail. In August, 2009, California’s State Legislature approved ACR−12 into law. The trail would serve to link the many historic veterans’ museums and memorials throughout the Central Coast.
Tim Haley, a Vietnam veteran from Atascadero, California, has been leading
the effort to get Purple Heart Trail signs up on the Central Coast in
California. Haley is the past Commandant of the Marine Corps League,
Detachment 680 in San Luis Obispo. Tim is being ably assisted by Chuck
Ward.
The Marine Corps League, Detachment 680 thanks
![tcsn[1].gif (2377 bytes)](images/tcsn1.gif){kind=small}
for hosting this web site as a donation, click on their logo
for more information on the many services they provide. The
MCL website is:
www.mcl680.org
Send your comments to:
webmaster
Last update on:
09/02/2011
Website design & updates courtesy of:
Dave Frayer
