Officials in Harrison announced on Thursday the town will now be known as a Purple Heart community.

Local vets say they are humbled by the proclamation. "You're going to see the proclamation and you're going to see all the good things about Harrison said by our good mayor who's very patriotic along with our town council,” says  Ben DeFonce, of the  Town of Harrison Veterans Service Office.

The Purple Heart is the U.S. military's oldest decoration, given to those who have been wounded or killed in combat. It was first created by General George Washington in 1782 and was known as the Badge of Military Merit. It was first awarded to three soldiers in Newburgh, N.Y.

The current Purple Heart medal was developed by General Douglas MacArthur in 1932.