Paint it Purple
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 10, 2019
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Bleeding Purple has a different meaning for this group.
Tarleton State University student veterans freshened up Purple Heart parking spaces on campus Oct. 4.
Juan Garcia, president of the Tarleton Veterans Association, a chapter of the National Organization of Student Veterans of America, said it was time for a facelift.
“Some of the signs were a little bent and faded,” he said. “We painted the spaces, got new signs installed and got them all oriented in the right direction. We wanted to touch them up and make sure our veterans know we didn’t forget about them.”
Garcia, a master’s student in history, came to Tarleton out of high school, took a break for a four-year hitch in the Marine Corps, and returned in 2016.
His service to veterans and the university was recognized with the John Tarleton Spirit Award in ceremonies in April.
The reserved parking spaces — painted in Tarleton purple and outlined in white — span the campus and are marked with signs provided by the Wounded Warriors Family Support organization. The signs include the words “Combat Wounded” and an image of the Purple Heart medal, which features a profile of George Washington.
First dedicated in 2016, there are currently five spaces designated for Purple Heart honorees — in P12, P20 South on the west side of Memorial Stadium, P17 near the south entrance to Wisdom Gym and P3 adjacent to the Tarleton Center and Military Veterans Services Center, along with a new one near Memorial Stadium.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
#
Contact: Phil Riddle, News and Information Specialist
817-484-4415
priddle@tarleton.edu
