United Bank joins Purple Heart parking program | News, Sports, Jobs

SPACE DEDICATED – Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell, at right, presents a certificate of appreciate to Ken Wright, branch manager of United Bank in Weirton, as part of a dedication ceremony, Friday, of a parking space reserved for those who have received the Purple Heart at the bank’s Three Springs Drive Weirton offices. — Craig Howell

WEIRTON — The effort to honor local Purple Heart recipients with the dedication of designated parking spaces continues to grow.

Friday morning, a brief ceremony was held in recognition of the United Bank branch located on Three Springs Drive joining the campaign.

“In my 20 years of banking, this is probably the fastest I’ve had anything approved,” noted Ken Wright, branch manager for the bank, explaining he had heard about the program through the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The effort in West Virginia to dedicate parking spaces to Purple Heart recipients began in 2022 with a campaign launched by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4442 in Elm Grove with a goal of establishing such spaces at each West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles office. The campaign reached Weirton last August, inspiring the city and American Legion Post 10 to carry it on within the community.

“This is our sixth location,” explained Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam.

In addition to United Bank, dedicated parking spaces established by the city and American Legion Post 10 also are available at the Millsop Community Center, the Weirton Municipal Building, Hancock County Savings Bank, DeeJay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille and the Fairfield by Marriott.

American Legion Post 10 Commander Ron Haggerty offered his thanks to Wright and the employees of United Bank for their support of the program.

“You jumped right on,” Haggerty said.

Frank Haber, a recipient of the Purple Heart and a member of the Legion’s committee for the program, encouraged those gathered to remember not only those who were wounded in battle, but also those who never were able to return home.

“They’re always my heroes,” he said, adding he remembers those with which he served who lost their lives. “You never really forget that. You live with that.”

The Purple Heart is considered the nation’s oldest military decoration, awarded to those wounded or killed while serving. Originally known as the Badge of Military Merit and presented by George Washington on three known occasions during the American Revolution, the award fell out of practice for some time, but resurfaced after World War I, carrying on the same ideals Washington had in recognizing those who were wounded.