Town of Jaffrey honors military sacrifices with Purple Heart designation

On Wednesday, Jaffrey joined other towns in becoming a “Purple Heart Community.”

The designation officially recognizes the sacrifices of military members wounded or killed in combat, with signs and banners at the town’s entrances to express gratitude.

The town marked the occasion with a ceremony on the town common on Wednesday, where representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart unveiled the signs and banner that the town will use.

Select Board Chair Franklin Sterling, himself an Army veteran, read a proclamation, declaring the town a Purple Heart Community.

“This is a great honor for the town of Jaffrey, and we’re honoring the great sacrifice of many of our veterans,” Sterling said.

Al Varelas, a Vietnam veteran and commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 875, representing New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, spoke about the significance of the Purple Heart. The medal is awarded to those killed or wounded in action due to enemy fire, friendly fire under enemy engagement and concussion-type explosions such as an improvised explosive device.

Varelas told the story of one soldier, Albert L. Ireland, who was awarded a total of nine Purple Hearts, five in World War II and four in the Korean War.

Matt Ketka, an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was the keynote speaker of the event. Ketka, who grew up in Dublin and graduated from the Dublin Christian Academy, joined the U.S. Army in 2008.

He initially was stationed in Alaska, and then was deployed to Afghanistan, to a mountainous area on the border of Pakistan.

“Like many of us in the infantry, my days were spent walking, patrolling, waiting, sometimes wishing for action, and then almost immediately wishing we hadn’t asked for the action,” Ketka said. “That cycle of boredom, adrenaline and fear became part of my daily life.”

On July 19, 2009, during a routine mission to check on neighboring villages facing Taliban threats, Ketka’s platoon was ambushed.

“I can still remember listening to our leaders over the radio, predicting a high chance of combat, and as the gunner at the top of the vehicle, I thought I was ready. But nothing truly prepares you for that moment,” Ketka said. “In the middle of the ambush, surrounded by RPGs and gunfire and chaos, I was struck in the head by a bullet.”

The bullet tore through his helmet, fracturing part of his skull before becoming lodged in the back of his gear. He was evacuated, and spent time recovering in Germany before returning to the states.

“At that time, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to receive a Purple Heart,” Ketka said. “I was placed in a wounded warrior battalion where nearly everyone wore one. It never felt like something that made us special. We had simply done our jobs, and each of us carried scars. Some seen, and some unseen.”

With the perspective of years, Ketka said, his view of the medal has changed, to a symbol of sacrifice.

“Not only of blood, but of the time, the health, and at times, life itself. I think of it the same way I think of a parent’s love: the willingness to give everything, even at great cost for the sake of others,” Ketka said. “It’s not a medal that celebrates glory, but honors endurance, devotion and the heavy price of service.”

Ketka thanked all Purple Heart recipients, both those present at Wednesday’s ceremony, and those who received the award in the past, and those who would in the future.

“The Purple heart is not just a decoration. It is a reminder of the love and commitment that bind us together as a nation. It is a testament to the sacrifice that allows our children to grow up in a safety, our communities to thrive and our country to remain free,” Ketka said. “So, today, let us not only honor the medal itself, but also the men and women behind it.”

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.