Marana is a Purple Heart Town

Marana is proud to serve and honor Veterans as a Purple Heart Town. Marana received the designation in December 2014. At the time, only two other communities and one county had received the distinction in Arizona. Today, more than 30 cities and all of Arizona’s counties have become Purple Heart Entities.

Originally called the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart was established by George Washington in 1782. It is the oldest active military award and is presented to men and women of all military services who have been injured or killed in action against an enemy of the United States.

The Purple Heart designation is an “outward expression of an internal desire to recognize and honor recipients of the Purple Heart” and started as part of the “Purple Heart Trail” in 1992 in Mt. Vernon, Virginia.

Mike Dryer, a Marana resident, as well as a Purple Heart recipient, nominated the town for the distinction, which is given through the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Dryer said, “It is just a great recognition of all the men and women who have served. It is just so heartwarming that council was so willing, never asked a question other than what do we need to do to make it happen?”

One of the ways that Marana has shown its dedication to veterans is through the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery located near the intersection of Luckett Rd. and Wentz Rd. The Kai Family Foundation generously dedicated the land for the cemetery which opened in 2016, with the first interment on March 14, 2016. There is no cost for interment for qualified veterans to be buried at the cemetery.

A walk around the cemetery shows support from many organizations in the community, including from the Sunflower Community Veterans Club, the local Rotary, and even work completed by Marana High School students.

While the exact number of Purple Heart recipients from Marana is unknown, the town is proud to recognize the many recipients, and families of recipients, that call Marana home.

Learn more about the Purple Heart Trail here.

Sources:

Allis, Brad, “Marana becomes a Purple Heart Town,” The Explorer, December 24, 2014

Website: purpleheart.org search for places in Arizona with designation, accessed February 2024

Schick, Joshua (WWII Museum Curator), “The History of the Purple Heart,” The National WWII Museum website, accessed February 2024

Arizona Veterans' Services