Coastal Carolina University has been designated a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The announcement was made at the Nov. 8 Military Salute to Veterans at Wheelwright Auditorium

Cmdr. Patrick M. Burke of the Myrtle Beach Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart presented the University with the designation and delivered three Purple Heart signs at the event. CCU has been designated a Military Friendly University since 2011 by G.I. Jobs Magazine. The designation recognizes CCU's long record of support for military personnel and veterans.

As a Purple Heart University, CCU will add three Purple Heart parking spaces at selected locations on campus. The parking spaces are reserved for the University's Purple Heart recipients.

"I am extremely proud of the Coastal Carolina Chapter of the Student Veterans of America for getting this bill approved and for coordinating the erection of the signs and the events at the Military Appreciation Football Game," said Denny Powers, director of CCU's Office of Student Veterans Services. 

The Purple Heart is the nation's oldest military award, introduced as the "Badge of Military Merit" by Gen. George Washington in 1782. It is one of the most respected medals that U.S. military members can receive. Since 1917, the decoration has been awarded by the President to those wounded or killed in service. These individuals are honored nationally every year on Purple Heart Day, Aug. 7.

"It is my distinct honor to acknowledge that Coastal Carolina University has officially become a Purple Heart University," said Sean Shumate, one of CCU's Purple Heart recipient students. "I would also like to recognize the Student Veterans Association at CCU for their hard work and dedication to make the transition from service member to student as seamless as possible."

CCU's Office of Veterans Services was created on Jan. 1, 2015, to better serve the growing veteran and veteran family member population on campus.

Coastal Carolina University joins a long list of colleges and universities who have been awarded this designation, including Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.

"Our mission is to assist veterans in making the transition to college from the military and the transition to the workforce after college; to utilize the Veterans Success Team to retain and graduate veterans and their family members; and to conduct training for staff and faculty on veterans' issues," according to the CCU website.