Roger's
Purple Heart
by
Ross Rice
A
recent headline in the August 16th Houston Chronicle read “Short
Of Purple Hearts, Navy Tells Vet To Buy Own.” Korean War veteran
Nyles Reed, after waiting 55 years for his medal, received instead
a certificate and a form letter stating the medal was “out
of stock.” He could wait 90 days and resubmit his application,
or buy his own, which he did, for 42 dollars plus state sales tax
at a military surplus store.
A few days earlier, on the CBS Morning Show, Harry Smith choppered
in onto a freshly-cut upstate New York field, where internationally
acclaimed field artist Roger Baker has completed his “gift
to the country,” a fully-realized, 850,000-square foot rendering
of the modern Purple Heart, carefully mowed into green and purple
clover. WWII veteran, Art Livesey, whose personal medal was used
for Baker’s layout sketch, took a ride up for the aerial view.
Clearly moved by the scope and detail, Livesey reminds the television
audience, “People should always remember the Purple Heart,
and…what it means.”
While it seems mildly ironic to see that both of these stories should
appear at roughly the same time, it’s safe to say that the
Purple Heart is something every one of all political (and apolitical)
persuasions can agree on: those who are wounded or killed on behalf
of the American people deserve the American people’s respect
and gratitude. As it turns out, Baker’s Purple Heart project
came about due to the collaboration of artist and community, between
the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor and the Orange County
Commission of Parks. And between lawnmower and grass.
Roger
Baker seems, at first glance, an unlikely guy to pull it all together.
With a pin-striped engineer cap, faded jeans and moccasins, he appears
to be a guy who spends most of his time outdoors, working with his
hands... CONTINUE...
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