Combat Wounded Parking Spaces

Parking Spots At Danbury War Memorial Reserved For Wounded Veterans

by Rachel Martin Danbury Daily Voice (Tuesday, 3/31/16)

DANBURY, Conn. -- There are new reserved parking spaces for combat-wounded veterans in the parking lot of the Danbury War Memorial.

The signs read, "Reserved -- Combat Wounded," contain purple and are illustrated with a Purple Heart -- specifically a combat decoration that is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded by the enemy, or posthumously to the next of kin.

There are an estimated 1.8 million Purple Heart recipients, combat-wounded service members who have transitioned back to civilian life.

Danbury resident Lee Teicholz, who pioneered Danbury's project, said, "The reserved parking spaces are just a small token of our appreciation to those men and women who carry the burden of injuries received while participating in direct combat and who deserve our recognition for the extra mile they have had to walk while serving our great nation."

The signs were provided for free by Wounded Warriors Family Support, an Omaha-based nonprofit.

"They need to be remembered and honored for their sacrifice in service to our country," said Col. John Folsom, founder and president of the group. "I see it as part of a healing of the spirit for our combat-wounded veterans."

Teicholz said that other locations in the city are being scouted out for the signs, and that eventually the spaces themselves will be painted purple, to further enhance their visibility. He also hopes to have a dedication ceremony for the parking spaces in the near future.