PITTSBURG, Texas (KLTV) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5398 in Pittsburg was given the honor of becoming a Purple Heart Post. This designation allows Purple Heart recipients, meaning those who were wounded in combat, along with other veterans to have a place of camaraderie.

Roman Eble is the post commander. He wanted bring this honor here after attending the recognition at the Mineola Post. He also wanted to shine a light on its importance.

“Well, this will educate the community. A lot of people see a purple heart, they might see it on a plate, but really don’t understand what a purple heart is and what it means to receive a purple heart,” Eble said.

To qualify, a post is required to have a member who is a Purple Heart recipient. Another qualification is the service a Post does for the community.

At Post 5398, one of their efforts is an outreach program to help those who have returned from war, especially combat wounded veterans.

Lisa Holmes Lumkwitz is a surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient. She is also involved with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the group that gave the designation.

Lumkwitz talks about the value of the Post’s outreach program.

“It’s real critical for those folks, because when they come back, often times they feel forgotten, they don’t want to talk about it. So it’s really good, the outreach that they have here in Camp County, and we were very impressed with it.”

And since the Post’s inception in 1972, the designation brings honor to past Post members who were were Purple Heart recipients themselves.

“So it’s a great honor and reflection of their dedication to service in the military,” said Eric Walter with the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

In the state of Texas, there are over 47,000 living recipients of the Purple Heart.

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