By Mike Drake
Peninsula College is now the first college in the Northwest Athletic Conference to have a reserved parking spot for veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
Veterans receive a Purple Heart Medal in name of the President for being injured or killed in combat. Having this parking spot available raises awareness for the Veterans Program.
Peninsula College Veteran Navigator Jerrod Brown, worked on this project for about a month before putting in the request to the Associated Student Counsel to acquire the parking space, and it was voted through January 26, 2016. The Counsel also offered to pay for the new parking spot sign.
There are 1.8 million estimated recipients of a Purple Heart medal and it is the second oldest medal to be awarded in our nations history.
According to eBenefits, 157 students are utilizing the GI Bill at Peninsula College.
“There is a difference between veteran friendly and veteran supportive. The addition of the Purple Heart parking spot is a big step in the direction towards being veteran supportive,” Brown said.
The Purple Heart is the second oldest medal in U.S. history. The oldest medal, being the Andre Capture Medal, is no longer issued. The Andre Capture Medal was created by act of the Continental Congress in 1780 and awarded to three soldiers. Two years later, August 7, 1782 George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit, The Purple Heart.