Purple Heart Day at Finlay Park | Press Conference

One bears the physical and mental wounds of war and are blessed to return home in the arms of their loved one rather than beneath a draped flag. To our Purple Heart recipients here today, please stand. >> [applause] >> We are so honored for your courage. For all veterans that are here, please stand. And we thank you for your >> [applause] >> And I can't forget if there's any spouses, which I see a few out here. Please stand so we can honor you as well cuz we could not have DONE IT WITHOUT >> [applause] >> THANK YOU. >> [clears throat and snorts] >> WE ARE HUMBLE HEROES that are proud to serve and are very honored to give back to the veterans so they're never forgotten. But freedom doesn't sustain itself. It is strengthened every day by all of us. My challenge to you is simple. Find ways to support and honor those who served in your communities and neighborhoods. The future of our nation depends on it. Thank you, Governor Governor McMaster's and South Carolina leadership for your unwavering support. May God bless our Purple Heart patriots and those that are still serving. May God bless the city of Columbia and South Carolina, and may God bless the United States. And now I've had the mic too long, so before I go any further, I'd like it's my distinct honor to present the honorable Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, City of Columbia, and he will be followed by Major General retired Todd B. McCaffrey, Secretary, South Carolina Department of Veteran Affairs. Thank you. Mayor. >> [applause] >> First of all, I just want to take a a minute and thank you. Thank you for your service. Not only to you the veterans in the room, the recipients, but also to the families. Because everything is a sacrifice. We hear the words freedom, freedom is not free, as we all know. There's sacrifices made to have that. Here we are today in this beautiful park. We have an opportunity to hear to celebrate and be the first Purple Heart Park in the state of South Carolina. And I think it's only fitting for it to be Finley Park, who just rehad had its rebirth here this past November, where there's something for everyone. Where there is reflection, there's action, and there's feeling, and there's love. As we walk through this park and we have the opportunity to see it, feel it, we understand how special this is. I do want to thank the SCDBA and the secretary for partnering with the City of Columbia to recognize the Purple Heart recipients and their families. Uh today we honor, as we said, the men and women who made extraordinary sacrifice. And remember, these are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, right? Service to our country. Um as we recognize the families who stood beside these service members and carry on their own sacrifices throughout their loved one's service and recovery. It is especially meaningful to gather here at Finley Park, South Carolina's first Purple Heart Park. This space will serve as a lasting reminder of courage and sacrifice of our wounded veterans. Purple Heart Viola Week also gives communities across South Carolina an opportunity to keep the stories and the sacrifices of our Purple Heart recipients visible and remembered. Always remembered, never forgotten. So, on behalf of the city of Columbia, our council members, we do have council member Sam Johnson here in attendance. We have several of our city administration here as well. Our assistant city manager, who parks fall under, Henry Simons, is here along with our park director, John Cass, and a host of all other city employees all here to give honor. We thank each and every one of you Purple Heart recipients for your courage, your sacrifice, and your service. We're honored to recognize you today, committed to ensuring your sacrifices are never forgotten. There's close to 150,000 people in this community. We swell every day by 90,000. We have 75,000 college students that call this home. We have the largest training base, but we're also one of the most patriotic cities there is. Well, how do I know that? Seven out of 10 military families are deciding to make Columbia their home. There's a reason why. So, to me, this is just another reason why we continue to build our relationships stronger, but also remember and thank for the sacrifices y'all I'm getting a little older, so I got to put on my eyeglasses. Um I do want to present this proclamation. Created by George Washington in 1782, the Order of the Purple Heart for military merit is the oldest military decoration in the United States in present use. The Purple Heart recognizes outstanding valor, fidelity of members of the United States Armed Forces who have were wounded in a war zone while fighting bravely to preserve and protect our nation's most treasured freedoms. Congressionally chartered national veteran service organization, the Military Order of the Purple Heart is committed to funding veteran services, welfare, rehabilitation, education programs while upholding the proud legacy of courage and honor exhibited by the combat wounded veterans. Finlay Park has been designated as a Purple Heart in a historic recognition as the first park to receive this designation in the state of South Carolina. Finlay Park will serve as a sacrifice site for reflection, remembrance, fostering education, community engagement around the sacrifices made by those who served in the Armed Forces. In recognition of the lasting debt of gratitude we owe to the brave men and women who have risked their lives to protect our way of life, the Military Order of the Purple Heart annually distributes simulated versions of its official flower, the Purple Heart via viola, which I'm holding here, that are assembled that are assembled by veterans with disabilities and financial needs in an effort to raise funds for veteran services. So, therefore, I I, the mayor of Columbia, Daniel J. Rickenmann, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do I here proclaim August 7th, 2026 as Purple Heart Day in the city of Columbia. >> [applause] >> Thank you all for this uh very uh important day. Um I was thinking about for more than 250 years, tens of millions of Americans have worn our nation's cloth. They fought for her freedom, and they provided leadership in every facet of American life. And among these patriots, experts estimate that nearly 2 million have been recognized with the award of the Purple Heart. Our nation's oldest military decoration for wounds received in combat. So I'm exceedingly privileged today on behalf of Governor McMaster to join Mayor Rickman here at Finley Park, South Carolina's first Purple Heart park, to honor the physical sacrifice made by South Carolinians who have received this medal, and thank them for their continued commitment to this city and to this state. I was privileged to serve in uniform for more than 34 years, and I have seen firsthand the sacrifices made on battlefields by those whom we celebrate today. The expression thank you for your service is one we hear often in a state as patriotic as South Carolina. But frankly, those words seem an an inadequate expression of the appreciation for the men and women who we highlight today. The proclamation Mayor Rickman presented and that I will soon present as well is but a small token of the collective appreciation felt by this city and this state for those who are not only willing to serve, but literally sacrificed blood and bone or even their lives for our nation. No proclamation can repay that sacrifice, but proclamations do attest to a lasting historical tribute. Made even more enduring through the dedication of this beautiful park to these remarkable Americans. Thank you for all of you for attending, and many thanks to the city of Columbia for recognizing all of our veterans, and especially those whom we honor today. Our city, our state, and our nation is stronger and more resilient for the example of the men and women who are recipients of this most distinctive of military recognitions. So with that, um I too have a proclamation on behalf of the governor's the governor's proclamation and I will read some of it I'm going to see if I can do it without my glasses. So if I fail here miserably I'm going to look them up. State of South Carolina governor's proclamation. Whereas created by General George Washington 1782 the order of the Purple Heart for military merit is the oldest military decoration United States in present use. And whereas the Purple Heart recognizes the outstanding valor and fidelity of members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded in a war zone while fighting bravely to preserve and protect our nation's most cherished freedoms and whereas a congressionally chartered national veterans service organization the military order of the Purple Heart is committed to funding veteran services welfare rehabilitation and educational programs while providing the proud legacy of courage and honor exhibited by combat wounded veterans and whereas in special recognition of the lasting debt of gratitude we owe to the brave men and women who have risked their lives to protect our way of life the military order of the Purple Heart annually distributes simulated versions of those official flower the Purple Heart viola that are assembled by veterans with disabilities and financial needs in an effort to raise funds for veteran services. Now therefore I Henry Dargan McMaster governor of the great state of South Carolina who would also say that the proud and happy 5.5 million South Carolinians do hereby proclaim August 7th to 14th 2026 as Purple Heart Viola Week and August 7th 2026 Purple Heart Day throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to in to recognize and pay tribute to combat wounded veterans across the Palmetto State and the nation for their selfless contributions in defense of freedom and democracy signed Henry Dargan McMaster governor state of South Carolina. >> [applause] >> Thank you very much. >> [music] [music] >> Woo!