Arcanum to become a Purple Heart Village

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The Village of Arcanum is in the process of becoming a designated “Purple Heart Village” and will be added to the National Purple Heart Trail. Village officials are planning to host a special ceremony on Sept. 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Veterans Park (weather permitting; otherwise, event will move indoors). Arcanum Mayor Bonnie Millard will present a proclamation and representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart will be present to participate in the ceremony and present the village with a special plaque. Organizers plan to have community involvement in the ceremony as well. Arcanum-Butler Schools will be joining in this honor and will become a designated Purple Heart School District. The village and school district are honored to pay respects and recognize the brave men and women who have given so much to our country. Purple Heart recipients are welcome to join the celebrations and to be honored. Due to HIPAA laws, there is not a public list of residents who have received this honor, the village will be distributing information throughout the community through newspaper articles and with flyers throughout town to spread the word.

What is the History of the Purple Heart Trail? The Purple Heart Trail was established in 1992 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The original idea for the Purple Heart Trail came from Patriot Frank J. Kuhn, Jr., a member of Chapter 1732 in Virginia. His idea was carried to the national level by Patriot George Gallagher, a member of Virginia Chapter 353. Patriot Gallagher was a former National Adjutant. Patriot Gallagher introduced Patriot Kuhn’s Purple Heart Trail idea as a resolution during the 1992 MOPH National Convention held in Cherry Hill, N.J. The resolution was approved and the MOPH National Purple Heart Trail began. The Purple Heart Trail originates at a monument in Mt. Vernon, Va. Mt. Vernon is the burial location of George Washington. This monument marks the origin of the Purple Heart Trail.

The purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal. 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 vary from state to state. There are currently designated sections in 45 states as well as Guam. For more information about this national program, check out their website: https://www.purpleheart.org/PurpleHeartTrail.

The Arcanum Preservation Society is proud to announce more window sponsors this past week. Sponsorships or in memorandum monetary gifts have been made to their window restoration project on the the Old Opera House (a.k.a. Old City Building) by the following individuals and/or groups: The grandchildren of Roland and Lela Rench, Lyle Bixler Realty, Lyle and Marilyn Bixler, Jim, Beth and Taylor Piel, Bev and Kirk Honeyman, Glen and Kelly Moore, the Cleo Edwards Family, Curt and Rose Lambert, In Memory of Mark York by Mark and Becky York, in memory of Jake and Betty McGlothin, an anonymous donor, Donovan and Linda Brown, Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society, Cy Schweiterman, Inc., in recognition of Tim Herron, the AHS Class of 1968, Rebecca Hill, Tom and Barb Troutwine, AHS Class of 1981, and the Shank Family. The APS is very happy to have reached their Phase 1 Window Goal so quickly. Thank you to everyone who sponsored a window. The physical work off restoring the windows will now begin and you may see windows boarded up as they remove them to complete the repairs and restoration. If you are interested in joining the restoration team, please contact the APS at [email protected] or attend their next member meeting on July 14 at 7 p.m. at the Opera House.

Invitations were mailed this past week to the members of the 1970s decade to the combined Arcanum High School Reunion. Any AHS graduate or anyone who attended AHS is welcome to attend, this will be hosted by members of the 70s decade. Previously the group met several years back as a combined all 70s reunion and decided that they wanted to share all the fun with others. The event will be held on Aug. 21, 2021, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the American Legion in Greenville! DJ Opie will be hand to keeps the tunes a rolling all evening long. Snacks and a cash bar will be available. Casual dress is expected. Hope you can plan to join in on the fun.

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countryman,” ~ Gen. George Washington (In 1782, when he created the Purple Heart medal, then known as the Badge of Military Merit.)

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By Vickie Rhodehamel

Arcanum News for the week of July 12, 2021

Vickie Rhodehamel is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with her Arcanum community column. She can be reached by calling 937-423-3763, by e-mail at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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