Shown is the Purple Heart recognition awarded to Anthony Masi, late resident of Franklin, who received injuries during his service in Vietnam. Franklin will observe Purple Heart Day on August 7, 2020 for the first time, to honor residents like Masi.

Did you know that August 7th is known as Purple Heart Day? Nationally in the United States, it is celebrated to remember and recognize brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. This year, on August 7, 2020, at 5:45 p.m. at Franklin Town Common, Franklin will celebrate its first Purple Heart Day, as a Purple Heart Community designated by the Massachusetts Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org). The Town will also soon be installing signs reflecting this status, joining other towns on the Purple Heart Trail.

Dale Kurtz, Franklin’s Veterans Services Offer, knew Franklin had its share of Purple Heart recipients among its citizens, and he set out to acknowledge the sacrifices of Franklin veterans wounded or killed in war while serving their country.

“I’m very thrilled that we’re a Purple Heart Community. It’s something I thought about ever since we put the walkway in,” says Kurtz. Franklin has veterans, he says, who sustained “severe injury during combat. They didn’t die, but they were injured, and we don’t do anything to recognize it. It really struck hold with me, and I thought, I need to do this, I need to move forward.”

Kurtz, who works for Avon and Franklin, said the subject came up with the Town Administrator in Avon. He set about getting the designation for both of those towns.

“It was actually a fairly simple process,” says Kurtz, who said he was sure to discuss the matter with Franklin’s Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen, as well as the commanders of both the Franklin V.F.W. Post 3402 and Franklin American Legion Edward L. Grant Post 75. The Franklin Town Council needed to make a proclamation and sign off on the procedure. “I believe in talking to the constituents and people who will be affected,” says Kurtz, who initiated the process prior to Memorial Day. The Town proclamation declaring August 7th as Purple Heart Day, in fact, was read during Memorial Day proceedings.

This month, then, will be the first Franklin will recognize Purple Heart Day in its community. Prior to Franklin’s Concert on the Common, on August 7th, some Purple Heart recipients of Franklin and their relatives will be recognized, and the community will celebrate them.

 Franklin natives Alfred D’Orazio, left, and his late brother Louis, (right), were both recipients of  the Purple Heart for wounds they received in WWII.

93-year-old Franklin native Alfred “Fred” D’Orazio, a World War II U.S. Army veteran who was wounded in Germany, says, “I think it’s honoring us. It’s their way of saying what the men did, and it’s nice to know that people appreciate you and they haven’t forgotten us. I think it’s pretty important.” D’Orazio’s late brother, Louis, also received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in the battle of Monte Cassino. 

“I wish my husband was still alive to receive that honor,” says Marilyn Masi, who will attend the August 7th ceremony in place of her late husband, Anthony, a Vietnam veteran, who received three Purple Heart citations. Masi, who passed away in 2016, had a difficult time when he returned from the service. “It was when they were having all the trouble, and Vietnam vets weren’t welcome,” says Masi. “And, you know, he got a lot of medals. He was proud of his time in the service.”

Kurtz would like to include other Purple Heart recipients in town to recognize.

“We are asking any current Franklin residents or family members of a former Franklin resident who passed away or moved who received a Purple Heart to contact us at our office number, (508) 613-1315 or email us at [email protected],” says Kurtz. “We want to create a register, so that we can get input from our recipient as to what they would like to have for recognition in August and in future years.”