Purple Heart recipients recognized in Mercer County

HERMITAGE, Pa. (WKBN) – Purple Heart Day is August 7, but every day is worth celebrating those who earned were the honor.

On Tuesday, the Western Pennsylvania VA Health Care System welcomed local recipients for a special time together. About a dozen Purple Heart recipients came together at the Michael Marzano Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage.

The Purple Heart is a military decoration, awarded for being wounded or killed while serving our country.

Larry Hawthorne was a Marine, ambushed in 1967 while in Vietnam and came home in a full body cast.

“It’s an honor. Not everybody gets that. Not everybody wants it, but not everybody gets it,” Hawthorne said.

Grove City’s Ron Halovanic was wounded in a foxhole. It was an important chance to talk with other medal recipients.

“Talking helps. I know for the first 10 years, I didn’t talk about Vietnam at all,” Halovanic said.

Talking was also important for John Durisko. He wanted to talk with other Purple Heart recipients and share stories. He served in World War II.

“I had about 60 guys with me in the POW camp, and they’re all gone. I’m the last one,” Durisko said.

He brought a French Medal of Honor he received about five years ago during a D-Day celebration. His Purple Heart came while being a combat medic and getting wounded just before the Battle of the Bulge. Durisko is turning 99 later this month.

The memories, the honor, the stories — the Butler VA Health Care System wanted to honor the Purple Heart recipients.

“Absolutely let them know they’re still loved. Let them know they’re appreciated and that people respect what they did for our country. And we can never repay them, but we can never stop thanking them,” said Lauren Regis, a nurse manager.

The group included Jeremy Dunlap who had two Purple Hearts for being wounded twice in Iraq, six weeks apart.

Mercer County has 40 registered Purple Heart recipients.

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