The purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, bridges, and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.

The Purple Heart trail was established in 1992 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The original idea for the trail came from Patriot Frank J Kuhn Jr. a member of chapter 1732 in Virginia.

In 2005 Tony Roman of Chapter 1836 worked with Senator Leticia Van De Putte and Governor Rick Perry to achieve designation of IH-35 from Laredo Texas to the Oklahoma border as part of the nationwide Purple Heart trail