People driving into the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community will soon be greeted with a symbol of gratitude for veterans; signs that state they are entering a Purple Heart Community.

On March 21, SRPMIC will be designated a Purple Heart Community via a dedication ceremony at 9 a.m. at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River. SRPMIC is the first Native American community in Arizona to receive this designation.

The Purple Heart designation was unanimously approved by the SRPMIC Tribal Council on Feb. 2, at the request of the SRPMIC Veterans Affairs Office, according to a press release. The Purple Heart community designation is given by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans that works on legislative initiatives and provides services for veterans and their families.

The ceremony will feature remarks by Military Order of the Purple Heart-Department of Arizona Commander John Moore and SRPMIC President Martin Harvier who will receive the proclamation commemorating the designation.

Attending the ceremony will be SRPMIC Purple Heart recipient veterans: Cameron Grey, Sr. and Larson Enos.

The ceremony will include a roll call of SRPMIC’s fallen heroes and the unveiling of the “Purple Heart Community” sign, one of 18 that will be installed at the Salt River Indian Community’s boundary entry points.

This designation affirms that the SRPMIC government recognizes those in the community who gave their lives or were wounded in combat defending American freedom.

The Purple Heart is the oldest American military decoration, and it was established as “The Badge of Military Merit” by Gen. George Washington on Aug. 7, 1782, during the Revolutionary War. The badge was reestablished as the Purple Heart on Feb. 22, 1932, by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of American and Allied forces in the Pacific theater of World War II.

The Purple Heart award is now reserved for U.S. service members who were wounded or killed by enemy action on or after April 5, 1917.

Becoming a Purple Heart Community also means SRPMIC will join the Purple Heart Trail, a national network of roads, bridges, highways and other monuments and trails honoring service members who have received the Purple Heart.

SRPMIC has the deepest appreciation and respect for the men and women who have made great sacrifices in serving their nation and this Community in the U.S. Armed Forces, the press release stated.