The first honoree was Elkins resident Andy Douglas, who was recognized during Post 29’s annual Veterans Day dinner last month. During the event, Douglas received his Purple Heart, which he was awarded after being wounded in North Korea during the Korean War 72 years ago.

“Post 29 member Jake Roberts was the mind behind getting the Purple Heart for Andy,” Elkins American Legion District Chairman Donnie Lambert told The Inter-Mountain. “A couple years ago he (Douglas) mentioned to Jake that he had been wounded in North Korea during the war. He told Jake that he had not received a Purple Heart and all that he had was telegrams from his parents that he had been injured in action. So Jake helped him file the paperwork to get it. ”

Lambert said the Army rejected Douglas’ first submission for a Purple Heart, but that he continued to work on helping get the veteran the medal he deserved.

“The Army had initially rejected it, so I stepped in and did some research with the National Archives and found a document showing when, where and what the wounds were,” Lambert said. “So we resubmitted for it and the Army gave it to him.

Elkins American Legion Post 29 Commander Lenny Whritenour honors the Little Arlington Cemetery grave of Charles Purkey on the 90th anniversary of his death.

“We are proud that he was able to get it and he is proud that he has it. I have never seen something like this before and I hope I don’t have to see it again. That was a travesty of justice for him. He should have got it (Purple Heart) back in 1953.”

Later in the month of November, Lambert and Post 29 Commander Lenny Whritenour placed flowers and flags at the grave of Charles Purkey on the 90th anniversary of his death. Purkey, who served in World War II, was the first veteran buried at the Little Arlington Cemetery.

“That cemetery has been around for 90 years now and we now have roughly around 1,200 graves out there,” Lambert said. “I’m not sure how many veterans we have out there, but there are quite a few.”