1.20.180 << 1.20.190 >> 1.20.200
PDFRCW 1.20.190
Purple heart state.
Washington state is designated a purple heart state that honors people who have received the purple heart award.
NOTES:
Findings—2021 c 213: "(1) Washington state is grateful to be home to multitudes of United States armed forces members, veterans, and their families that have made the choice to protect freedom and our country.
(2) The purple heart medal is the oldest United States military decoration, dating back to 1782 when our state's namesake general George Washington created the badge of military merit to recognize heroic acts by his troops during the revolutionary war. Based on this example, the purple heart medal was created on George Washington's two hundredth birthday, February 22, 1932, and was made available for recognition of meritorious acts that occurred during World War I.
(3) Elizabeth Will designed the award to be a heart shaped medal with a profile image of general Washington that hangs from a purple ribbon.
(4) The purple heart medal is now presented to those members of the armed services who are killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States or in military combat.
(5) The state designated August 7th as purple heart recipient recognition day.
(6) The state offers a distinctive license plate for purple heart recipients.
(7) The state has multiple counties, cities, and locations that recognize portions of the transportation system as part of the purple heart trail.
(8) The designation of Washington as a purple heart state authorizes state agencies to honor purple heart recipients and recognize and proclaim the state as a purple heart state." [ 2021 c 213 § 1.]
Purple Heart Trail
“As you travel the Purple Heart Trails, please take a moment to remember the bloodshed and the ultimate sacrifices that have been paid for our nation’s freedom.”
What is the History of the Purple Heart Trail?
View the Purple Heart Trail
Learn about ALL the trails located throughout this great land of ours by clicking on a state!
Build the Purple Heart Trail
Want to have your town, city or county designated a Purple Heart Locality?
The design on this monument was created by Mickey Gallagher, the wife of George Gallagher. Her initials (MG) are indicated on the lower right corner as you view the monument.
Check out our Purple Heart Trail Facebook page!
Contact Information
Purple Heart Legacy and Trail Coordinator
Daniel M. Eddinger
Maj, USA,
(Ret)
National Coordinator
Purple Heart Trail
828 707-5131
A bill that would declare Washington a Purple Heart State, a ceremonial designation to honor members of the armed services who have been killed or wounded in action, unanimously passed in the state Senate on Friday with a vote of 49 to 0, with no members excused, and is on its way to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk to be signed into law.
HB 1250 was introduced Jan. 18 and, if signed, authorizes state departments to erect signs — especially at the entry points to the state — recognizing that Washington is a Purple Heart State and allows departments to accept gifts or donations to cover the cost of the signs.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, was the primary sponsor of the bill and said he did so with encouragement from Lewis County resident Mary Astrid.
Lewis County became a Purple Heart County in November 2019.
While Astrid said she can’t be present for the physical signing of the bill due to COVID-19 restrictions, she said she intends to stand at the Vietnam Memorial on Capitol campus grounds when the bill is signed into law.
“Lewis County Purple Heart laid the groundwork for the state,” Astrid wrote in an email. “I’m very proud of our community for recognizing the immense worth and value of taking it to state.”