BENNINGTON – In advance of national Purple Heart Day on Thursday, August 7, the Vermont Veterans Home honored those who have received the medal, given to vets who were wounded in combat.

A number of local Purple Heart medal recipients – including three who live at the home – were praised Monday afternoon for their sacrifice by speakers from veterans organizations, state government and the Legislature.

Among those honored was Army veteran Wallace “Wally” Mattison, a Vets Home resident who is a few weeks shy of his 101st birthday, and is one of the dwindling number of World War II veterans still living.

His daughter, Maureen Sprague of Bennington, said her father was one of the thousands of troops to hit the beaches at Normandy in June 1944 as part of the historic D-Day operation.

In S

See Full Page