The City of DeSoto has been officially designated as a Purple Heart City by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The recognition honors the nearly 3,000 U.S. military veterans residing in the city, particularly those wounded in combat.
The designation was marked with a ceremony unveiling signage on Saturday, Aug. 31st.
The event took place near the DeSoto Public Library, where a parking space has been reserved specifically for combat-wounded veterans.
“We are incredibly proud of all of our US Military Veterans, especially those who have been wounded in combat and who have returned to DeSoto where they inspire us daily and enrich our community through their deeds and their presence,” said Mayor Rachel Proctor who participated in Saturday’s unveiling.
“We want our Purple Heart Veterans to know that DeSoto is their city! By posting these signs and reserving this parking space we let them and the rest of the world know we love and cherish our brave Purple Heart Veterans as well as their colleagues who served or who are on active duty. They can all feel at home in DeSoto!”
As part of the designation, three Purple Heart City signs have been installed at key locations in DeSoto: the median on Pleasant Run Road near the Southwest Exit of the Crossing Shopping Center, the intersection of Westmoreland and Beltline Road, and the intersection of Hampton Road and Danieldale Road.
The reserved parking space for combat-wounded veterans is situated adjacent to the DeSoto Public Library.
“The Military Order of the Purple Heart has been very impressed at the level of support and commitment by the City of DeSoto. “said Gus Wittschack, Military Order of the Purple Heart Region V commander.
“I am personally excited about the parking spot, we have done a few of them, but the attention to detail in Desoto’s is impressive. I can’t wait to park in one myself!”
