Five Purple Heart recipients from the Montgomery County area were honored during a 30-minute ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Montgomery County High School gymnasium for their courage, sacrifice and dedication to the military.

Fred Bohl, Roy Dooley, Harry Johnson, Roy Walton and Tracy Walton are the Purple Heart recipients. Dooley, Johnson and Roy Walton represented Montgomery City VFW Post 4436 and Bohl and Tracy Walton were the representatives of Wellsville VFW Post 3056 at the event, which was called A Ceremony To Proclaim.

Both VFW organizations co-hosted the event, which had appearances from VFW Department Commander Quincy Myrick, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 605 Commander John McClellan, the Montgomery County Commission and State Rep. Bruce Sassmann. Post 4436 Commander Kayla Gastler made the introduction, welcome speech and closing speech, while Post 3056 Commander Jerry Fischer shared the significance of the POW/MIA table to the audience.

“I would like as an elected county official to say thank you to Kayla and Jerry and to the VFW for putting this ceremony together,” Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston said. “I remember being a young kid at the VFW Hall. Post 4436 holds a special place in my heart because my dad was a commander down there. It’s good that we remember these people.”

All five Purple Heart recipients received a certificate, a coin of appreciation from both VFW organizations and a VFW Commander pin.

“Anytime that we as a community can come together to recognize veterans, it’s a good thing,” Myrick said. “It’s always good to recognize veterans. It’s very special to recognize Purple Heart recipients. I commend Post 3056 and 4436 on joining together to make this happen not only to become Purple Heart cities, but also to become a Purple Heart county.”

Out of the recipients, only Roy Walton was not present. His family members accepted the honor on his behalf. Walton served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Bohl also served in the Army during Vietnam. Bohl served in the military in 1967-68 and earned a Bronze Star during Vietnam.

“He just put himself at risk in order to make sure that other people got what they needed,” said Carol Ward, Bohl’s sister-in-law.

Johnson, a member of the Johnson and Friends music group, was another recipient who served in the Army during Vietnam.

Dooley received his Purple Heart on Feb. 27, 1991, while he was serving at Operation Desert Storm. He served in the Army for more than nine years. He joined the military after high school. Dooley has been living in Montgomery County for more than four years and is in his third year with the Post 4436 organization.

Tracy Walton, a 1992 Wellsville-Middletown graduate, served in the Air Force Academy for four years. She was in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and received her Purple Heart in 1997.

The Purple Heart is a military medal awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those wounded or killed during service on or after April 5, 1917. It is the oldest military decoration in the country and is awarded for service and bravery.

“This medal, which was first established by George Washington in 1782, was intended to recognize soldiers of uncommon battle,” Gastler said.

On Nov. 21, Montgomery County was named a Purple Heart County after the commission signed a proclamation. There are over 100 Purple Heart Counties that are designated in Missouri. In order to receive a Purple Heart, the county must want to honor its citizens who have received the Purple Heart Medal and their veterans.

Also, both Montgomery City and Wellsville were named Purple Heart cities.

“Our commitment to veterans does not end at putting up these signs,” Gastler said. “It does not end the day a veteran returns home. This is just the start of our journey. Today, we gather not just to commemorate an award, but to honor extraordinary courage, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to our nation.”