Purple Heart walk

The Purple Heart Medal is our country's oldest military decoration.  It was originally designated as the Badge of Military Merit and established by General George Washington from his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, on August 7, 1782.  So far as the known surviving records show, this honor badge was granted to only three men, all of them noncommissioned officers.  

Following the Revolution, the Order of the Purple Heart fell into disuse and no further awards were made. It was revived by President Herbert Hoover on the 200th Anniversary of George Washington’s birth on 22 February 1932 out of respect to his memory and military achieve-ments.  The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.  At this time it has been awarded to over 1.8 million Americans.

A Purple Heart Walk recognizing Township members of the Armed Forces who earned the Purple Heart was established at the Major General George J. Betor Veterans Memorial Park in 1994.  Each recipient is honored with a brick with the name, branch of service, and rank.  Additions to the walk are honored annually at the Veterans Day ceremony.  The Purple Heart Walk is a project of the Ewing Patriotic Committee and sustained by grant funding. 

The asterisk (*) following a name indicates that the serviceman/woman died in wartime.

If you have a service member who earned a Purple Heart and would like to have them included in the memorial, please contact the Patriotic Committee at  patrioticcommittee@ewingnj.org or call the office between 12:30 and 4:30 on Wednesdays at (609) 883-1776 x6208.   

Ewing History
Biography of Charles Ewing
Ewing Township Honor Roll
Purple Heart Walk
Medal of Honor Awardee Fred Zabitosky
Biography of Fred Zabitosky
Remembering September 11th