NAHANT — The town is gearing up to celebrate being designated a National Purple Heart Community with a ceremony on August 7, in order to recognize local heroes for their service and sacrifices.
The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. sharp at Veteran’s Memorial Park (located directly across from the Coast Guard Life Saving Station), and all community members are encouraged to attend the event. There will also be a number of veterans, Gold Star Families (the immediate family members of those who died in service), and local elected and State officials.
In order to increase public awareness, the Town has posted signs along the causeway coming into Nahant as well as others at Veteran’s Park. To top it off, there will also be banners posted along the poles that line the causeway of the town’s 10 Purple Heart Recipients leading toward the park.
Select Board Chair Rob Tibbo expressed his joy at the town being designated a Purple Heart Community, echoing the importance of recognizing those who have served.
“I’m very proud of the initiative to have Nahant designated as a purple heart community. It’s very important that the recipients of the Purple Heart be recognized,” Tibbo said. “The Purple Heart is pointed toward service members wounded or killed while serving, not necessarily through a heroic act, but the willingness to put yourself on the line.”
Tibbo continued, “It’s one of America’s oldest medals, and I’m very happy the town is going to be designated as a Purple Heart Community.”
“This event is a heartfelt tribute to the brave men and women who have been wounded or paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to serve our nation,” the Town said in a press release. “We are proud to recognize Nahant’s Purple Heart recipients, and the town’s commitment to honoring our veterans and active-duty service members.”
For those who wish to attend, community members are asked to RSVP by July 24. To do so, they can call Veterans’ Service Officer Jon Lazar at 617-549-8760, or email at [email protected].
Lazar said he’s proud there was “a range of collaboration” that helped bring the event to life.
“The town itself passed a proclamation last November to declare August 7, 2025, to be Purple Heart Day. … The collaboration really starts with the town for starting this, along with the Veterans’ Services and the Department of Public Works, as well as the American Legion Auxiliary,” Lazar said. “We have a tremendous outpouring of collaboration.”
