Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle The city of Grove City held its annual observance of National Purple Heart Day from Aug. 4 to Aug. 8 at the Purple Heart Memorial Walk in Henceroth Park. Throughout those five days, dozens of residents and non-residents alike walked the path of heroes as they remembered the men and women who were wounded or killed in combat while serving in the United States Armed Forces. On Friday morning, the city held a special ceremony to pay homage to the families of the fallen and to honor the area’s living recipients of the Purple Heart Medal. Pictured here standing at attention for the playing of Taps are members of the American Legion Paschall Post 164 Honor Guard.Len Stayton salutes the flag during the National Anthem. Stayton is the chaplain of the American Legion Paschall Post 164.Members of the Girl Scout Troop 5963 handed out flags and programs and thanked the veterans for their service at the Aug. 4 ceremony. Pictured from left to right are Girl Scouts Grace Moore, Angela Bowerman, Josephine Bowerman, and Bella Ridgway.Charlotte Rausch and granddaughter Kenzlynn Hogle, 7, were among the dozens of local residents in attendance at the ceremony.Grove City High School students Chase Dyer (left) and Jonathan Eschbach (right) performed Taps at the ceremony.
