CHERRYVALE — On Nov. 8, Big Hill Lake hosted a dedication ceremony to honor the official designation of a newly created three-mile trail as a Purple Heart Trail. “It’s the only equestrian trail so honored in Kansas,” noted Joe Sutton, National Purple Heart Trail Coordinator, who spoke at the event.
The event began with the presentation of flags by the mounted Chanute Saddle Club’s Heartland Twisters Drill Team. Each member carried a flag representing a branch of the armed forces, plus a special Purple Heart flag. The riders circled and drilled in the field beside the South Equestrain Camp pavilion before lining the horses up to stand with the flags behind the campfire and speaking podium.
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Eagle Scout Wally Carson presented the American Flag, followed by veteran Ty Martinez carrying the Kansas flag. Chris Hammerschmidt, Project Manager of Big Hill Lake, Army Corps of Engineers, welcomed the crowd of around 50 people. Hammerschmidt’s May 2025 proclamation declaring the trail in memory of Purple Heart veterans set in motion the trail’s national designation.
Sergeant Kristi Hawley, Recruiting and Retention NCO officer, spoke of her family’s long history of farming the land that is now Big Hill Lake, and her support for honoring Purple Heart veterans. Deirdre Monroe also spoke about mapping the trail and how the Purple Heart designation motivated her commitment to volunteer and never forget the sacrifices of veterans.
Joe Sutton spoke last, and his moving tribute explained the history and significance of a Purple Heart.
As the group sat at rapt attention, Sutton concluded: “And so today we dedicate this section of trail—here at Big Hill Lake—not merely as another scenic route through Kansas, but as sacred ground.” He mentioned the other colored trails, but emphasized this trail is different. “It becomes a place of honor and remembrance.”
Before Steve Lindsey gave the benediction, Sutton charged the group with a task. “To those who ride or hike this path, may you do so with joy, but also with awareness. Let your footsteps, or the hoofbeats of your mount, echo with gratitude. Let this trail remind you of those who gave so much of themselves.”
T he B ig H iIl P urple Heart Trail is listed on the National Purple Heart Trail registry and can be accessed from the Timber Hill Camp Area, 911 address: 488 21000 Road, Cherryvale, Kansas. Trailhead signage will be installed soon. Currently, the trail has white trail marker posts with a Purple Heart decal and quarter-mile increments in addition to blue slash marks on trees.
This trail and other improvements have been accomplished with hundreds of volunteer hours and Corps of Engineers financial and labor support. It has also been funded by past Handshake Grants, Trail Grants from the American Endurance Ride Conference, North American Trail Conference and grants from Labette County Tourism.
