Shamrock, Shamrock ISD designated as Purple Heart community

SHAMROCK, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Shamrock Veterans Memorial Association held a ceremony designating the city of Shamrock as a Purple Heart city and Shamrock ISD a Purple Heart school.

According to the United Service Organization, the distinction awards a service member that has greatly sacrificed themselves being wounded or paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, being killed while serving with the U.S. military.

“We’re proud that we can let them know and let there family know we’re proud of them,” said Veteran Rodey Vaughn. “I know that some of them are gone and some of them are still alive but we recognize them and hopefully this will make a big deal for everybody.”

Veteran Billy Clay shared that he is proud of the Purple Heart recipients and to have served his country.

“I’m proud it’s going to be a purple heart state,” said Clay. “A lot of people sacrificed a lot by going over there and getting hurt. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt and it meant a lot to me to be a soldier. I’m proud of what I did, good for the country.”

Shamrock Mayor Lynn Ramsey shared that with Shamrock being a small community, the Purple Heart distinctions hit closer to home.

“When it’s your citizens it’s very close to heart,” said Ramsey. “I mean those are your friends neighbors, your relatives and yeah, we’re very proud of our recipients of the purple heart.”

Ramsey adds that he and the community having the purple heart designation is a positive step, that will help bring the community together and benefit Shamrock Veterans Memorial Park.

Shamrock ISD Superintendent Kenneth Shields adds that he hopes students will be curious about the significance of the purple heart and that it allows teachers to share the sacrifice of service members.

“I hope they learn about sacrifice,” said Shields. “We live in a world that talks about self all the time and we want to have a service leader type mentality at our school district, so they will serve others in the future.”

According to Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander, Amarillo Chapter Mendell Schelin, Wheeler County is the only county in the state whose city, school and county have the purple heart designation.

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