Mayor Travis Shunnam read a proclamation designating the City of Aberdeen as a Purple Heart City, recognizing service members wounded or killed in combat and commemorating the sacrifices of veterans.

The proclamation states that the Purple Heart — established by Gen. George Washington in 1782 — is “awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded in combat or paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Mayor Travis Shunnam concluded the reading by formally proclaiming Aberdeen a Purple Heart City.

Bill Beauflabeau, identified as a chapter representative of the Military Order of the Purple Heart from Brookings, said the chapter represents recipients across North and South Dakota and described the organization’s work on awareness and the Purple Heart Trail. “On behalf of Military Order of the Purple Heart … I wanna say thank you for taking the time out of your guys' day, and showing your guys' dedication to veterans,” Beauflabeau said. He noted chapter membership is limited to Purple Heart recipients and described Aberdeen as the 53rd city in South Dakota to join the Purple Heart Trail.

Beauflabeau presented a challenge coin to each council member and briefly explained the tradition of unit coins in military history. Mayor Shunnam and council members accepted the presentation and thanked guests for attending.

No formal vote beyond the proclamation reading was required for the designation; the proclamation was read as part of the consent calendar and the council approved the consent calendar items during the meeting.