First of several county-designated 'Purple Heart' signs unveiled in Wheatfield

Republican members of the Niagara County Legislature joined County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski and Wheatfield Town Supervisor and Purple Heart recipient Don MacSwan on Niagara Falls Boulevard today to unveil the first of several county-designated “Purple Heart” signs, which will be installed throughout various locations in the county.

Led by the efforts of Jastrzemski, Niagara County was officially designated as a “Purple Heart County” in February following a unanimous vote by the County Legislature. Through the designation, the county’s Purple Heart recipients are able to be properly honored and recognized.

Wheatfield is the first to receive the county-designated sign in honor of MacSwan, who was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in the Vietnam War.

Jastrzemski, who first sought to make the special designation possible, said the sign is a symbol of the county’s gratitude to the U.S. military veterans who’ve earned the Purple Heart as a result of their sacrifice.

“I am very proud to see the first Purple Heart designation sign erected in Niagara County,” he said. “This sign is the first of many to be installed throughout the region, and they will serve as a symbol of gratitude to the brave military men and women who have made such tremendous sacrifice while serving. I’d like to thank the Niagara County Legislature and our Veterans Service Agency for making this possible.”

The newly installed sign is located on Niagara Falls Boulevard between Connecting Boulevard and Lockport Avenue. It is visible by heading northbound into the Town of Wheatfield.