Purple Heart City
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Have you ever wondered what the signs that read – Melrose, A Purple Heart City - mean?
The purpose of being a Purple Heart City is to express gratitude to the sons and daughters of our community who were either wounded or killed in combat defending the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans. There are more than 900 Purple Heart locations in the United States, honoring the 1.6 million Purple Heart recipients who were wounded or killed in combat.
Melrose has earned the designation as a Purple Heart City. The designation is given by the state Military Order of the Purple Heart as a thank you to veterans and a reminder to the community of the sacrifices servicemen and women have made.
Melrose has multiple monuments to our veterans including the new Gold Star memorial at the Knoll.
Veterans' Services is located in the Milano Center. They are open 8:30-12:30 Monday to Thursday for walk-ins, although appointments are highly encouraged. The office can be reached at 781-979-4186/4187 or via email at VSO@cityofmelrose.org.
Melrose Veterans Services' mission statement is: “To advocate on behalf of all the district’s veterans and provide them with guidance on local, state and federal benefit programs, quality support services and to direct an emergency financial assistance program for those veterans and their dependents who are in need.”
