The city of Erie is now officially a Purple Heart City, which is described as a city or community that is designated to honor and remember military personnel, wounded or killed in combat with hostile forces.

The idea for the new recognition started with Purple Heart recipient Bob Hill who asked fellow Purple Heart recipient Brian Fuller for help.

"Without him I do not think we would be standing here today, he initially started this to get Erie designated as a Purple Heart City and then handed the torch off to me.

Fuller met with Erie Mayor Joe Schember who did not need much persuading after he heard about the idea.

"I think two minutes into it the mayor did not need to hear anymore, he knew how good this could for our veterans and Purple Heart recipients and he wanted Erie to have that designation.

After reading the proclamation, Mayor Schember said he is always amazed with the amount of veterans who have the Purple Heart Medal in our city.

"It is incredible the number of people that do and the number of people that were wounded and survived and have come back and we also as part of this we mourn the people that lost their lives in war too," Schember said.

Fuller also gave special credit to someone who works everyday to tell veterans' stories.

"Mike Ruzzi is the voice of the veteran and it was not until I actually interacted with him and started following all the stories he was doing and saw for myself the legend of Mike Ruzzi," Fuller said.

Being in a city with this kind of recognition is something that gives Fuller great joy.

"Seeing Erie designated as a Purple Heart City is not just for veterans it is for the entire veterans community so I will say I am extremely proud every time I drive into Erie and see that sign, I know I am driving into a city that recognizes the sacrifices of so many and the families that have sacrificed as well," Fuller said.