GIRARD — A bridge on North State Street in Girard was renamed Tuesday to honor recipients of the Purple Heart.

A group of people representing the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11 in Warren and The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 606 in Trumbull County were on hand to help dedicate the bridge.

The project to get the bridge dedicated started in 2017, said Bob Marino Sr., event coordinator and member of the DAV.

“It started when Glenn Holmes was a state representative and he got it pushed through the House and the Senate. The governor signed a bill to name the bridge the ‘Purple Heart Veterans Bridge,'” Marino said.

This is the 10th bridge in Trumbull County to be renamed to memorialize veterans, but the first in Girard. Marino said he believes the county has the most veterans memorial bridges in Ohio.

Marino said Mayor James Melfi and city council played a crucial role in the process of renaming the bridge.

“Mayor Melfi and Girard council had to approve it before it was sent to Columbus, so it started with him,” Marino said.

Marino believes the renaming is important to honor local veterans and anyone passing through who has a Purple Heart.

“To me, it’s honoring the guys who were wounded in combat,” he said. “Someone could be driving through from somewhere like California, see the sign and say to themselves ‘they’re honoring me’.”

Ken David, a member of the Purple Heart organization, said the renaming will give the community a sense of pride, among other things.

“It honors all the Purple Heart recipients who come through the city and it recognizes all those living and those who have passed,” David said.