Local event this week to honor those killed or wounded in service to country

SWANSEA — Director of Veteran’s Services Kevin Serpa and Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein would like to invite community members to attend the Town of Swansea’s upcoming Purple Heart Day event in honor of those killed or wounded in service.

Purple Heart Day will be recognized locally with a softball game between Swansea firefighters and police officers on Friday, Aug. 5 at Field 2 at the Veterans Memorial Park, 347 G.A.R. Highway. Nationally, Purple Heart Day is to be recognized Sunday, Aug.7.

The event will begin promptly at 5 p.m. with a ceremony. The ceremony will include the Board of Selectmen’s proclamation of Swansea being designated as a Purple Heart Community and presentations about veteran suicide awareness.

The first pitch will be thrown at 5:45 p.m. by Swansea resident Sean Comiskey, a 1992 graduate of Joseph Case High School and a retired First Sergeant who served 22 years with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Comiskey was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds suffered by enemy fire on April 2, 2005, while serving in Iraq.

“Purple Heart Day recognizes and honors those who were wounded and/or killed while bravely serving their country,” Director Serpa said. “As part of this event, we would like to remind the veterans living in our community that there are numerous resources available to them should they need any assistance, especially in regards to mental health or substance use. We look forward to the game as a way to commemorate the day and come together as a community.”

Representatives from the Home Base organization will also be speaking at the event. Home Base is a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program that is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds for veterans of all eras, service members, military families and families of fallen soldiers. For more information, visit www.homebase.org.

The Snack Shack will be open to the public during the game for those who would like to purchase food. The Ice Cream Barn and Wicked Flavah Food Truck will also be present.

“Swansea is a small town and we are accessible to our veterans and their families. We are thankful for their service and all they endure on our behalf to retain our freedoms,” said Town Administrator Aronstein.