Veterans Service Officer Robby Robinson requested that the board make that designation. He also reported that 1,910,162 Purple Hearts have been awarded to United States military personnel and that Veterans Services' records show 30 Purple Heart recipients currently live in Goodhue County.
The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the U.S. president to those who are killed or wounded while serving in the armed forces, according to Robinson.
"It is nice that they recognized us," said Peter Mark Hegseth, a Purple Heart recipient from Kenyon. "Maybe more people will think about patriotism and how lucky we are to live where we do."
Robinson showed the commissioners a sign provided by the Military Order of the Purple Heart - Department of Minnesota that can be displayed on roads in the county to commemorate the designation.
The proclamation comes five days before Veterans Day.