DAPHNE — Veteran organizations, local leaders and residents gathered at the Daphne Civic Center the evening of Friday, Aug. 7, to honor Purple Heart recipients and their families at a special “Purple Heart Salute” ceremony.

The event, held on Purple Heart Day, was hosted by the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Commission and the South Alabama Veterans Council. Around 50 Purple Heart recipients from both Alabama and other states attended Friday’s ceremony, including from Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Wisconsin and New York. The night’s events included ceremonies and keynote speech from Jack Hawkins, the long-time Chancellor of Troy University and a two-time Purple Heart recipient.

“What I think about tonight is first of all, I’m proud to be an American,” said retired U.S. Army Col. Phil Quigley, vice president of marketing for the Mobile Bay Veterans Commission. “What’s awesome about this too is it brings everyone together. Unites everyone together and as Dr. Jack Hawkings, the chancellor of Troy (University) said it doesn’t matter, we’re a brotherhood, sisterhood and we should all be proud to be Americans, and that’s the way I felt sitting up there on stage.”

Among those honored was Army Private First Class Joseph “Dile” Chancery, who was killed during the Korean War at 20 years old and for 75 years was considered missing in action.

In 2021, as part of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) Korean War Disinterment Project, a set of remains were exhumed from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, and were transported to the DPAA laboratory for advanced forensic examination. Through DNA analysis, anthropological examination, dental records and corroborating historical evidence, Chancery’s remains were identified by scientists.

His remains were returned home, and he was finally laid to rest with full military honors on Saturday, Aug 8, at Lottie United Methodist Church Cemetery just outside of Atmore.

Leaster Kelly, Joseph “Dile” Chancery’s niece, said the return of her uncle’s remains have helped bring their family closer together.

“Everybody loved him and he always wanted to be a soldier, and he did get to do that,” Kelly said at Friday’s ceremony. “I just wished I had grown up with Dile, but we didn’t get to do that. That wasn’t in the cards for us, but it’s so wonderful, him being home. It’s going to bring so much closure, and we’re just looking forward to seeing all the stories about him tomorrow.”