DESOTO –DeSoto is home to 2,850 US Military Veterans.
DeSoto City Council opened its meeting Tuesday night with the honor of being designated a Purple Heart City. The Military Order of the Purple Heart designated the city with the status this week. The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members and is awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving.
Eric Newton, Senior Vice Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #1513 serving Dallas/Fort Worth and Mid-Cities, said about the designation, “It shows just how committed DeSoto is to their Purple Heart veterans, and veterans as a whole, and we encourage other cities to step forward like DeSoto and show their support for the heroes that make their communities safer and better!”
Chapter #1513 represents more than 520 Purple Heart Recipients, with Newton receiving his Purple Heart after he was wounded by mortar fire in Vietnam. He later volunteered for service in Iraq.
Lisa Holmes-Lunkwicz of the Combat Wounded Service Organization (CWSO), who is the surviving spouse of US Army infantry soldier Jon Lunkwicz who received a Purple Heart in Vietnam, was also in attendance.
The DeSoto Police Department was also busy Tuesday night with National Night Out.
DeSoto Officials celebrate NNO at DeSoto Marketplace Photo courtesy City of DeSoto
This year, the NNO event was held at the Shops and Restaurants of DeSoto Market Place from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The event featured attractions, including a water slide, bounce house, face painting, games, and the chance to explore the offerings of 11 local restaurants located at DeSoto Market Place.
There were activities for all in attendance to continue to foster community spirit and strengthen police-community partnerships.
During the council meeting, DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor also mentioned that five HOAs, including Silver Creek Meadows, Thorntree Estates, Meadowbrook, High Meadows, Candle Meadows, and Briarwood Estates, were holding events.
Citizen comments included Shanita Cleveland stressing she is not a resident of DeSoto “as media had said” she lives in South Dallas. She recognized the positivity regarding the Purple Heart City designation. She also said in brief during her comment cities are supposed to have justice, and fairness. She said she was asking “are we voting for people who truly love to serve the people?”
Bernadine Harrison followed Cleveland and recognized her positive comments.
Harrison then added, “Mayor Proctor, you said at the last meeting here, you did it five times, and it is almost like washing our face in dish