Haverhill Becomes a Purple City at Heart, Honors Most Recent Recipient Donald Jarvis

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Haverhill formally became a Purple Heart City Saturday morning pinning the city’s newest medal recipient, Donald R. Jarvis, and honoring all those injured in service to the nation.

While steps toward naming Haverhill a Purple City have been taken since December when Lorraine Post 29 War Veterans Commander Keith Gopsill proposed the idea, Jarvis learned in April that he too had been called who is a recipient. Gopsill, who is now vice commander, told those gathered at the Grand Army of Republic Park that U.S. Army Specialist Jarvis was wounded in Feb. 13, 2012 when he was serving as a combat engineer in Afghanistan. That’s when a 200-250-pound improvised explosive device exploded in his vehicle, causing the vehicle to surge to its side.

Army Specialist Donald Jarvis sustained a traumatic brain injury in conjunction with total hearing loss in his right ear, vertigo, vision problems, dizziness, balance issues. Aside from traumatic brain injury, he also has post traumatic stress disorder and deals with ongoing injuries to the right side, affecting his knees and shoulders. Because of the injury to Jarvis’ right side, his service dog Mocha accompanied him to his left side, Gopsill said.

Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe saluted Jarvis and read the official dedication of the Purple Heart. (Photo by WHAV News.)

Massachusetts Veterans Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe greeted Jarvis and read the official dedication of Purple Heart as Jarvis stood with his parents, Donna and Michael Jarvis.

Congresswoman Lori Trahan presented the Congressional proclamation in recognition of Jarvis ’service, courage and sacrifice on behalf of our grateful nation.

We do this by celebrating a special veteran who was injured in the line of duty. When we think of the Army Guards core values ​​beliefs, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage it is no wonder that many of our minds immediately jump to someone like Donald Jarvis reflects each of those principles fully, he says.

More than his heroism abroad, Trahan noted, Jarvis also showed courage at home.

While on duty at the Boston marathon in 2013, she was one of those brave men and women who, instead of fleeing the battle, ran directly into it to join the effort and recovery efforts after the bombing.

The State House citation was delivered by state Sen. Diana DiZoglio and Rep. Leonard Mirra. DiZoglio, who noted the possible resurgence of COVID-19 could interfere with future personal gatherings, called for the majority.

I will challenge us today to take this opportunity to find a local hero and look them in the eye and tell them, Thank you for your service, he said.

Mirra called Jarvis a tireless worker, working seven-days-a-week helping veterans. He has a go-to guy. He explained how Jarvis found shelter for a Vietnam veteran and his wife who lost their home when flooded and convicted.

As if the day’s activities weren’t enough for Jarvis, he was honored in live video by Impractical Jokers star James Murr Murray at a family event later that night. After Murray asks Jarvis’ girlfriend, Alison Riley, to pin the Purple Parrot to the recipient, Jarvis falls to one knee and proposes marriage. He accepted.

Haverhill Veteran Services Director Luis Santiago gave a brief history of the Purple Purple medal, mentioning that the idea came at the end of the American Revolution from General George Washington.

General Washington chose to honor them with a silk cloth shaped like a purple heart with the word merit, he explained.

Three -time Purple and Vietnam War veteran Gerard Boucher and Korean War veteran Russell VJ Chaput will receive Purple Hearts on Lip while City Councilor Thomas J. Sullivan, who served as master of the ceremonies, is said to remember all those who have passed who have received the distinguished honor to receive the Purple Heart medal. Their sacrifice and service went unnoticed by the City of Haverhill. Mayor James J. Fiorentini also read the cities ’official proclamation.

Besides Jarvis and Boucher, other Purple Honored recipients include Keith Alder, Steven Bird, Boucher, Charles Grandmaison, Haverhill Patrolman Christopher Landers. Another, Rory McGovern, a 2001 Haverhill High School graduate who served two tours in Iraq and now runs the history department at West Point, was unable to attend.

Purple Heart recipients were honored at the ceremony. (Photo by WHAV News.)

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Republican State Leonard Mirra presents a citation to the House signed by all for the city’s representatives. (Photo by WHAV News.)

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