Baton Rouge, La – August 5, 2022 – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome is proud to announce that the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will be officially designated a Purple Heart City and Parish on August 10, 2022, at the Metropolitan Council. The designation will coincide with National Purple Heart Day this month.
The public is encouraged to attend the presentation on the third floor of City Hall in the Council Chambers at 3:30 p.m. Mayor Broome will present a proclamation to VFW State Surgeon Albert ‘Bert’ Cusimano Sr., a Purple Heart recipient. Councilwoman Denise Amoroso will then sponsor a resolution during the Metropolitan Council meeting at 4 p.m. to adopt the Purple Heart Designation.
Mayor Broome encourages citizens of Baton Rouge to show their appreciation for the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients. This effort serves as a statement of support for military personnel, veterans and families of those who have served through the armed services. It is important to remember not only those who gave their lives in service and the Gold Star Families left behind, but also Purple Heart veterans and their families, whose lives were forever changed by injuries sustained in combat.
The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in present use, and was initially created by General George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit in 1782. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces 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 killed in action or those who die of wounds received in action.
The City of Baton Rouge will be the fifth Purple Heart City in Louisiana, joining the cities of Ponchatoula, Bossier City, Hammond and Benton. This designation was established in cooperation with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and with the support and backing of the VFW.
Signage will be planned for Baton Rouge gateways that will commemorate this proclamation, and it is anticipated that a sign unveiling ceremony will be held to celebrate the community’s commitment to supporting local service members and veterans and to honor Purple Heart Veterans and Gold Star Families.