Post 178 Commander Joanne Schumm and Post Executive Committee members present a Purple Heart Memorial donation to John Keating, Frisco City Council Member, Place 1 and Scott Dillingham, community patriot. Photo by Mark Hurlen.
In 2024, an idea originated to add a purple heart monument at the Veterans Memorial at Frisco’s Commons Park to honor the men and women veterans who have been awarded the medal. The memorial, originally dedicated in 2004, had been expanded over time, and now included the veterans Walk of Honor, the Wall of Honor, a Battlefield Cross, the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument, WWII Flyboy statue and information plaques on wars and conflicts since Frisco was founded in 1902.
Introduced as the “Badge of Military Merit” by General George Washington in 1782, the Purple Heart is also the nation’s oldest military award. It is one of the most recognized and respected medals awarded to members of the U. S. Armed Forces.
The idea for the monument quickly garnered city hall and community support. The Frisco Veterans Advisory Committee (FVAC), a dedicated group of veterans and citizens supporting over 6,000 local veterans to establish Frisco as a nation-leading, Veteran-ready community, was identified as the project planning and fundraising lead with a community donation goal of $50,000. To date, more than $42,000 has been donated.
The projected monument dedication is Memorial Day, May 26, 2025.