The City of Medford has officially been named a Purple Heart City, a U.S. military honor that commemorates local residents — both living and deceased — who were the recipients of Purple Heart medals. Bestowed by the president, the Purple Heart is not only the oldest but also one of the most revered military decorations in the U.S.
On Oct. 30, there was a ceremony at Medford City Hall. Local officials, including Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, were joined by veterans, their families and community members to unveil a new memorial celebrating the new designation and paying tribute to Medford’s Purple Heart recipients.
Lungo-Koehn emphasized that this accolade not only affirms the city’s respect for the courage of Purple Heart recipients but also nurtures a community that honors the legacy of all who have served.
“This is just another way that we’re honoring the sacrifice and bravery of those who were wounded or killed in combat,” Lungo-Koehn said.
Among the ceremony’s many highlights was the unveiling of the city’s newest tribute to its Purple Heart recipients — a granite monument. Stationed in front of the Killed in Action memorial on the front lawn of Medford City Hall, the monument features an engraved Purple Heart medal alongside an excerpt from Medford’s official proclamation.
The ceremony not only unveiled the city’s new memorial but also brought the community together in a spirit of remembrance. Jon Santiago, secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services, and City Council member Matt Leming, a current reservist, shared reflections on service and sacrifice. Christine Pierce, granddaughter of one of Medford’s Purple Heart recipients, delivered a poem honoring those lost and uniting attendees in recognition.
For Medford resident Kevin Blanton, whose family has a history of military service in the U.S. Air Force, the city’s Purple Heart designation was a source of pride.
Blanton expressed gratitude to local officials for securing a Purple Heart City designation.
“We just happened to live in a city where they went to the effort to step out and honor the recipients to get the designation. That makes me proud,” Blanton said.
Though no national registry exists for Purple Heart recipients, Medford calls several of these honorees its own. Among them is Pvt. Kenneth E. Miller, a former resident of Liberty Avenue, who, at just 19 years old, gave his life in Germany during World War II. Though his body was never recovered, he was recognized posthumously with the Purple Heart medal and is commemorated on the Wall of the Missing in Margareten, Netherlands.
Another recipient is Cpl. Manuel John Pimentel, a Medford resident who served with the U.S. Marines and was killed in Guadalcanal in 1942. Medford received his remains in April, and he has since been buried with his family in Cambridge Cemetery.
Medford’s James Pierce Sr., a Normandy survivor, is also a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. Pierce returned home from the war and built a family and life in Medford. Pierce’s granddaughter, Christine Pierce, recited a poem at the Oct. 30 ceremony.
To commemorate its designation as a Purple Heart City, Medford has installed signs at the entry points of the city declaring the honor.
“[The signs] will help bring awareness to veterans and hopefully shed light on how rich our community is with those that have served, past and present,” Lungo-Koehn said.
Veronica Shaw, the director of the Department of Veteran Services and a veteran herself, expressed that Medford is committed to providing ongoing support for its veterans.
“Medford recognizes all veterans, and we are dedicated to them and to honoring their service,” she said. “They were doing their job defending their country, and they don’t want the pats on the back, because either they lost friends, [or] they lost parts of themselves, physically and psychologically. We all could run into Purple Heart veterans every day, and we wouldn't know it.”
Shaw expressed the importance of community outreach toward veterans. She is currently collaborating with veterans’ officers from surrounding cities to create programs that assist veterans in navigating healthcare systems, reintegrate them into civilian life and address other needs within the local veteran community.
“I am committed to reaching all of the veterans where they are in life and helping to tailor the programs that we offer to suit their needs,” she said.
Shaw encouraged Medford residents to contribute to the Veterans Office’s emergency fund, which is separate from the city budget and instead runs entirely from donations.
“Out of that account, we have put roofs on people's houses, [and] we have helped homeless veterans get off the streets until they’re able to get [more permanent housing]. Because of that, the fund is solely based off of donations, [and] oftentimes it is very low,” she explained.
In the years to come, Medford hopes to put more veterans’ names on memorials and reach out to families to learn about any names they have yet to memorialize, according to Lungo-Koehn.
“We value and appreciate the sacrifice and the bravery that our local veterans, and, of course, all of our veterans in the United States, have done for us and our freedoms,” Lungo-Koehn said.
