News release
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday officially declared Los Angeles County a Purple Heart County, honoring all members of the United States armed forces who have been wounded or killed in action while serving.
In a related motion, the board also proclaimed Friday as Purple Heart Day in the County. Each year, Purple Heart Day is nationally observed on Aug. 7.
Both motions were brought forward by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. Cmdr. Zeferino John Madrigal III from the Department of California Military Order of the Purple Heart spoke during Tuesday’s meeting in Downtown Los Angeles, saying that the Purple Heart “represents the moment when service became sacrifice.”
“Today we’ve made a lasting commitment to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country, and now the largest county in the nation joins communities across the U.S. in declaring that the courage, sacrifice, and service of our Purple Heart recipients will never be forgotten,” Hahn said in a news release about the pronouncement. “The extraordinary service and sacrifices of every Purple Heart recipient will always be part of the story of Los Angeles County.”
The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most distinguished military decorations in the United States, the release said. Its origins date back to Aug. 7, 1782, when Gen. George Washington, unable to promote soldiers based on merit due to restrictions from the Continental Congress, created the Badge of Military Merit.
In his order he authorized the badge, a purple heart-shaped cloth symbol, to recognize soldiers who performed “singularly meritorious action.” Last year’s Purple Heart Day proclamation, also brought forward by Hahn, was the first in the county’s history.
“The Purple Heart tells a story that cannot be measured by medals alone. It represents service members who returned home carrying the wounds of war, and those who never had the chance to return at all. Their sacrifices are woven into the history of our nation and continue to shape the communities they helped protect,” Solis said in the release. “By proclaiming Aug. 7, 2026, as Purple Heart Day and declaring Los Angeles County a Purple Heart County, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients and ensuring their legacy is never forgotten.”
Among other things, the declaration instructs the county’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to install Purple Heart County signage at key county entry points and facilities and to collaborate with the Military Order of the Purple Heart on annual commemorative events, educational outreach, and veterans’ recognition ceremonies.
“Purple Heart Day is about recognizing service that came at an extraordinary cost,” Jim Zenner, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in the release. “It is an opportunity to honor those who were wounded or gave their lives in defense of our nation, acknowledge the families who have shared in that sacrifice, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting those who continue to carry the lasting impact of combat. We owe them more than our gratitude. We owe them the continued care, support, and respect they have earned.”
In February, Hahn dedicated the Louis Dominguez Veterans Resource Center in San Pedro, named in honor of Louis Dominguez, a Purple Heart Recipient who was seriously wounded by machine-gun fire while serving in Vietnam and later dedicated his life to public service, local government and teaching.
