Holts Summit designated as Purple Heart City

From left, Bryce Lockwood and John Dismer, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, present a commemorative plaque to Holts Summit Mayor Landon Oxley.
From left, Bryce Lockwood and John Dismer, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, present a commemorative plaque to Holts Summit Mayor Landon Oxley.

Holts Summit received a special distinction it has been working towards since earlier this year.

Mayor Landon Oxley read a proclamation at Mondays alderman meeting designating Holts Summit as a Purple Heart City.

He spoke about the sacrifices veterans have made, especially Purple Heart recipients, and about the Board of Aldermen's great respect for veterans.

This designation recognizes the city has worked to to support and honor veterans, through measures such as adding specially marked parking spots for Purple Heart recipients.

Branson was the first Missouri town to become a Purple Heart City. In recent years, Fulton and Callaway County have also been given the distinction (the latter as a Purple Heart County).

Department Cmdr. John Dismer of the Military Order of the Purple Heart presented a plaque to Oxley on behalf of the order, commemorating the occasion.

Then Bryce Lockwood, a Marine staff sergeant, Baptist minister and Purple Heart recipient, gave a brief history of the medal.

It was established in as the Badge of Military Merit 1782 by George Washington and at the time was the only medal enlisted men were eligible to receive. All others were reserved for officers.

After falling into disuse, it was later revived in 1932.

"It is a medal no one seeks to attain, but it truly represents the sacrifices of our armed forces," Lockwood said, speaking with emotion.

Signs declaring Holts Summit a Purple Heart City will be mounted at entrances to the town.

The meeting also included regular business, such as the reading and passing of ordinances authorizing the purchase of a brush hog, authorizing the mayor to rent ball fields at Greenway Park to the Holts Summit Optimist Club, authorizing the rental of copy machines for the police department and city hall and several others.