Osage Bend to be named Purple Heart Village

With a population of a few hundred, Osage Bend has had six men receive one of the nation's highest military honors.

The service of the men, as well as the community's sacrifice, is going to be recognized as the unincorporated Cole County town is designated a Purple Heart Village.

At a ceremony Sunday afternoon, the community will pay homage to the six men:

  • Henry Schmidt, who was killed in action during World War I.
  • Joseph Veit, who was killed in action in World War I and is buried in France.
  • Joseph Renterghem, who was killed in action in World War II and is buried in Belgium.
  • Frank Bisges, who was seriously injured in World War II.
  • Winfred Siebeneck, who was seriously injured in World War II.
  • Victor Cassmeyer, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

Family members of the six men being honored will speak at the Sunday ceremony, Verslues said. The ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m.at St. Margaret's Cemetery, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be in St. Margaret's Church at Osage Bend.

"I had seen where St. Thomas was named a Purple Heart City and begin to think about trying to get that designation for my hometown," said Rosie Verslues, who worked to get the recognition for the community. "I'm on the committee for Operation Bugle Boy and for the last 10 years have been working on veterans events. My husband was a veteran."

Verslues said Osage Bend had to get special permission from the Missouri Department of Transportation for the signs recognizing the Purple Heart designation because the community is unincorporated.

"At the time, when these men served, there were probably less than 100 people living in the area of Osage Bend. So to have six men from the area receive this high honor, I think, is remarkable."

Verslues and her husband purchased two large signs to show the community's designation. One is located off Route W.

"If we were an incorporated community, we could have put the sign on state right of way," Verslues said. "Since we aren't an incorporated community, we had to put the sign on a private road, off of Route W, and had to have a proclamation signed by members of the St. Margaret Cemetery Committee. It took a lot of work, but it's been very much worth it."

The other sign is located on Osage Bend Road. The location is where Victor Cassmeyer was born and raised, Verslues said.