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MOPH CHAPTER 784 BEGINS LIFE IN
FORSYTH, MISSOURI
On the evening of 22 January 2009, a new Military Order of the Purple Heart
Chapter was chartered in Forsyth, Missouri. "Patriots of Southwest Missouri",
Chapter 784 was installed by Department Commander Carl Dietrich and Department
Chaplain Jimmy Young. Commander Dietrich and Chaplain Young explained the
origins of the Purple Heart to Patriots and guests. They told those in
attendance that the Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in the world
still in use, established in 1782, and the first decoration that was ever issued
to the enlisted citizen soldier. Chaplain Young presented each Patriot with a
rendering of the original Badge of Merit, a purple cloth in the shape of a
heart, outlined in white with word Merit in white, that General Washington
bestowed upon his troops. He explained that the Purple Heart was lost for 150
years before being revived in 1932. Chapter Commander elect Mike Womack was
then asked to call the roll of all Chapter 784 Patriots. After all the names
were called and the Patriots had formed in front of the podium, they were
installed by Commander Dietrich. Commander Dietrich, before turning the
ceremony over to the Chapter Commander, presented the Chapter Commander's wife,
Liz Womack (LAMOPH), with a shirt that read, "Wife of a Combat Wounded
Veteran." The ceremony closed with Chapter Commander Womack thanking VFW Post
and Auxiliaries for providing the meal and most of all, providing Chapter 784
with a place to meet. Womack stated that his goal was to make Chapter 784 a
visible and active Chapter that the Military Order of the Purple Heart could be
proud of.
The ceremony was held at Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5168, Forsyth,
Missouri. Along with Department Officers, the ceremony was attended by City of
Forsyth, Missouri Mayor David Oliphant and his wife Deanne, the Exalted Ruler of
Lake Taneycomo Elks Lodge 2597, Harold "Buck" Saltzman, Taney County Memorial
Post 5168, Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Roger Ellis, families of the
Patriots and guests. Before the ceremony, the VFW provided an excellent meal
for the Patriots and their guests to enjoy.
Chapter 784 is now the sixth Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter in the
State of Missouri. Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.30pm,
VFW Post 5168, 113 Columbus Road, Forsyth, Missouri.
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