Oxford Township Takes Pride in Newly Installed Purple Heart Signs
(Oxford Township, Jan 9, 2025)
Oxford, MI – On Thursday workers from the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) installed Oxford’s final two Purple Heart Community signs along M-24 at the north and south ends of the township. Designed by RCOC Traffic Safety Engineer Andrew Bates, each sign is 24 inches by 30 inches and made of aluminum.
Oxford Township now has a total of six Purple Heart Community signs. The other four were installed in November 2025 along Seymour Lake, Lakeville, W. Oakwood and W. Drahner roads.
At its June 11, 2025 meeting, the township board unanimously approved a resolution that officially designates Oxford as a Purple Heart Community. In doing so, Oxford joined the nationwide network of municipalities, counties and states that honor U.S. service members who were wounded or killed in combat or by an act of international terrorism.
Township officials passed the resolution in response to a heartfelt request made by Darrin Hafeli, a U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“If you were wounded or killed, this is what the military sends you or your family. I was lucky. It was presented to me. Many of my friends had the award presented to their families,” said Hafeli, a 1996 Oxford High School graduate and member of American Legion Walter Fraser Post 108.
C.J. Carnacchio, the township’s communications and grants manager, worked with Legion Post 108 and North Oakland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 334 on this project. Carnacchio drafted the two-page Purple Heart resolution and worked to secure the road signage.
RCOC District 7 Supt. Gary Allison and RCOC Traffic Safety Engineer Andrew Bates provided invaluable assistance, support, expertise, encouragement and guidance. A heartfelt “thank you” to them!
Photos by C.J. Carnacchio.
