WESTFIELD – Veterans and citizens from across the community gathered Thursday to commemorate Purple Heart Recognition Day with a service at Kane-Wojtkiewicz Park and recognize Westfield’s U.S. Marine Thomas Pirnie for his bravery and courage to overcome three severe injuries sustained in combat.

“Today is national Purple Heart Day, and we are here to celebrate all those veterans, men and women, who stepped forward in combat and were either killed in action or wounded in action,” said Michael Roeder who is the treasurer of the Westfield Purple Heart Trail which hosted the ceremony.

The solemn ceremony was attended by the veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872, American Legion Post 124, The Marine Corps League Westfield River Valley Detachment 141, Vietnam Veterans of America

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