Sumter's Mayor McElveen declares Purple Heart Day on Friday

Mayor Joseph McElveen signed an official proclamation declaring Friday, Aug. 7, as Purple Heart Day in the City of Sumter on Monday.

The proclamation honors military veterans who are recipients of the Purple Heart, a U.S. decoration awarded to military members who have been wounded or killed while serving during combat operations against hostile enemy forces.

Sumter has Purple Heart recipients from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

The General George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart was named in honor of General Mabry, a Sumter native who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. The chapter was founded in 2011 and consists of 36 recipients of the Purple Heart.