A Purple Star Award was awarded to administrators of Barbourville Independent School at a recent ceremony led by Damien Hammons, an academic interventionist and Purple Star Liaison, Sargent Austin Smith with the National Guard and a recruiter, Joanna Carpenter, a prevention specialist with Regional Prevention Center, and General Stephen Bullard, who has an extensive and honorable list of service, but most recently retired from the Air Force and National Guard, and now advises governor Andy Beshear, the General Assembly, and the Kentucky Congressional Delegation on military matters.
The Purple Star Award is an award that recognizes schools who outwardly support and celebrate students and families with relations to those in the military. It is directly awarded to schools who implement practices to help make the process of transitioning less stressful for students and families that often relocate due to military assignments.
Hammons opened the ceremony by familiarizing attendees with the award and its purpose, and recognizing military families that were present, such as Sargent Christopher Lawson and daughter Ava Lawson, Chaplain Major Tyler Shields and children Audrey and Easton Shields, Mike and Regina Taylor and two daughters Madalyn and Makyla Taylor, and Jimmy Grubb.
Hammons displayed feelings of support and excitement by stating “this is an ongoing effort to support and uplift our military connected communities,” and “a career in the military is both honorable and valued.”
Easton Shields, son of Chaplain Major Tyler Shields, led the meeting in prayer, followed by introduction to Purple Star Representative and prevention specialist Joanna Carpenter, and General Stephen Bullard.
General Bullard expressed his appreciation for Barbourville Independent for adopting this award, and recognizing their support and patriotism for families with military affiliation.
As explained by General Bullard, The Purple Star Award originated in 2016 when Pete LuPiba, Deputy Director at Office of Budget and Management in Ohio and United States Navy and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, wanted to make a change because “Ohio does not have a state law that says you must celebrate Veteran’s Day,” stated Bullard. In response, he formulated The Purple Star Award to celebrate and honor the military and families.
Since the beginning of The Purple Star in 2016, the Department of Defense has made it a priority to publicize The Purple Star Award nationally as of 2020, and it is now present in almost 8,000 schools across 47 states, with 188 schools in Kentucky alone.
The ceremony commenced with a reveal of a brand new Purple Star Banner, awarded to the school and families.
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