AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is honored to announce that the West Texas State Veterans Cemetery (WTSVC) will be recognized as a part of the National Purple Heart Trail with a Purple Heart Ceremony at the cemetery on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The event is open to the public and will include a proclamation-signing. Purple Heart Chapter 900 will provide a designation sign to be placed near the cemetery entrance, as well as a “Combat Wounded” parking space sign.
"There is no higher act of honor than serving your country, and for those who are wounded or killed in combat, their lives and the lives of their families are forever altered by their selfless sacrifice. The Purple Heart is not just our oldest military medal in use today; it is a symbol of the American spirit that was forged 250 years ago by Americans willing to die to protect our way of life," said Commissioner Buckingham. "It is an honor for the West Texas State Veterans Cemetery to become a part of the Purple Heart Trail. I thank the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 900 for their help to showcase the VLB's newest Veterans Cemetery as a tribute to these heroes who have given us so much."
WHO: The VLB and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 900
WHAT: Purple Heart Ceremony to designate the WTSVC as a part of the National Purple Heart Trail
WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: The West Texas State Veterans Cemetery
4614 E 50th Street
Lubbock, TX 79403
Media interested in covering this event, please RSVP no later than Tuesday, June 16, by 5:00 p.m. Click below to contact the Texas General Land Office's Communications Department to RSVP and coordinate interviews and b-roll:
About the Purple Heart
In 1782, General George Washington, the future first President of the United States, created the Badge of Military Merit to recognize the sacrifices of the common soldier during the American Revolution. It was a simple purple cloth heart with the word "merit" stitched across it, worn on the chest, and awarded to those who performed heroic actions in combat.
In 1932, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur renamed the Badge of Merit as the Purple Heart. During World War II, the Purple Heart began being awarded only to those who were wounded or killed in combat. The medal also became available to members of all military branches. Before WWII drew to a close, approximately 1.07 million Purple Hearts were awarded, more than in any other 20th-century conflict combined. Today, there are approximately 47,000 living recipients of the Purple Heart in Texas.
About the Purple Heart Trail
The purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that pay tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal. The Purple Heart Trail accomplishes this honorary goal by creating a visual reminder to those who use the road system that others have paid a high price for their freedom to travel and live in a free society.
Signs posted at various locations mark the roads and highways where legislation has designated parts of the national road system as the Purple Heart Trail. The actual format and design of the signs vary from state to state. There are currently designated sections in 45 states and Guam.
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas's first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.
