Friday, October 2, 2026
MANSON — Manson has been officially designated a Purple Heart community, honoring military members wounded or killed in combat and the families who have borne that sacrifice.
The Chelan County Board of Commissioners approved the designation April 20 following a request led by Norm Manly, post service officer for the Wilkinson-Beeman American Legion Post 108 in Manson.
“I woke up one morning a little over a month ago and thought, you know, that’d be a great idea,” Manly said. “So I pursued it.”
Because Manson is an unincorporated community rather than an incorporated city, the effort required coordination among multiple local entities. Manly worked with county commissioners, the local American Legion post and the Manson Community Council to gather support before bringing the proposal forward.
“I sent some documentation to the commissioners, and they acted on it right away,” he said. “On April 20, we went into their meeting. They read the proclamation, signed it, and put their seal on it, making Manson a Purple Heart community.”
The designation is part of a national program recognizing communities that formally honor U.S. service members awarded the Purple Heart medal, which is given to those wounded or killed in action.
With the designation in place, organizers are planning a public ceremony each year on Aug. 7, recognized nationally as Purple Heart Day.
He hopes to host the ceremony at the Manson Village Green, a newly developed park on the site of the former Ernie’s gas station.
The event is expected to include remarks from representatives of the American Legion, the Manson Community Council and, potentially, Chelan County officials. Organizers also plan to recognize about five Purple Heart recipients annually, presenting certificates and adding their names to a plaque displayed at Chelan County offices in Wenatchee.
“Some of these will be families that may have lost someone,” Manly said. “Or it could have been their grandfather who got a Purple Heart.”
The Manson American Legion post itself carries a legacy of sacrifice. Named the Wilkinson-Beeman Post, it honors two World War I veterans who were killed in service.
“All American Legion posts are named after somebody, usually a veteran who was killed,” Manly said. “Ours is the Wilkinson-Beeman Post, named for two World War I veterans, and both of them were killed. We’re going to highlight one of them this year and the other next year.”
Families interested in having a loved one recognized during future ceremonies are encouraged to contact Manly at normmanly@yahoo.com to be added to the list.
For Manly, the effort is rooted in personal experience.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1964, leaving just before the Vietnam War escalated.
“I’ve always been thankful that I didn’t get put in those conditions,” he said. “But a lot of my friends went into the Army and other branches. Some of them didn’t come back. Some came back with physical impairments, and others with mental issues to the point where they committed suicide because of their time in the service.”
He said part of the goal is to raise awareness—especially among younger generations—about the meaning of the Purple Heart.
“If you go to a high school and ask kids what the Purple Heart is, most of them wouldn’t even know,” Manly said. “I just want to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind how important it is and what a sacrifice these people have made. Some never got the chance to be a mom or dad, because they gave their life for our country.”
Manly has reached out to the Manson School District superintendent and hopes to work with educators to incorporate lessons about the Purple Heart into history and social studies classes.
Manly said the designation builds on other efforts to honor veterans, such as Quilt of Valor presentations, which recognize service members with handmade quilts.
“It’s interesting to watch some of the veterans who get a Quilt of Valor, especially the Vietnam veterans,” he said. “A lot of them tear up when they receive that quilt. I think this will kind of be the same thing.”
The goal, he said, is not only to recognize veterans but also to acknowledge families who have lost loved ones or continue to live with the impacts of war.
Community response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“So far, I’ve had 100 percent support from this community,” Manly said. “This is a good community to do it in. People are very thankful for veterans. They come out to our Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances, so it was a pretty easy sell.”
He said the speed of the process—from idea to designation in about a month—was unexpected.
“When you’re dealing with government, things usually take forever,” Manly said. “I came up with the idea, talked to some local people, and then I talked with the commissioners. I was working through two of their representatives, and I couldn’t believe it — a month later, it’s all done.”
He credits that momentum to the rightness of the cause.
“When things are right, they’re right, and they happen,” he said. “As long as the doors open up, I keep moving forward, because that’s what’s supposed to happen. When the doors start closing, I usually back off from a project. With this one, the doors just opened wide.”
In the coming months, organizers plan to install Purple Heart Community signage at key locations around Manson and explore additional ways to recognize recipients and their families.
“The American Legion is going to cover the cost of everything we’re going to do,” Manly said. “We’re not looking for money to do that.”
He is working with the county on sign design and placement and has begun reaching out to local businesses about additional displays.
“I’m going to meet with a couple of business owners here and see if we can come up with some kind of plaque or something,” he said. “The more you’ve got out there, the better.”
Manson now joins Wenatchee, which is already designated as a Purple Heart city, in formally recognizing those wounded or killed in combat.
For Manly, the designation is ultimately about remembrance—ensuring that the sacrifices of service members and their families remain visible in the community for years to come.
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