By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Today is a big day for Pontiac’s Amm family, as a posthumous Purple Heart will be awarded for the service of one of their family members.

Roger Amm was a guest on Community Forum with Todd Wineburner last Friday. He explained through the research that went into the documentary about his father, John, he discovered his grandfather, Gus, had served in France during World War I and had been gassed with mustard gas on Oct. 16, 1918.

Amm said his grandfather had never been awarded the Purple Heart, which is awarded to soldiers who were wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917. Roger Amm and Oscar winning director Kane Farabaugh went to work seeing his grandfather was given the award. After enlisting the help of Congressman Adam Kinzinger, the award will be give later this morning.

“Kinzinger’s office has been wonderful. They were able to work with the military and have worked it out to where he will receive the Purple Heart,” Amm said.

The ceremony will be held at 10:30 at the Livingston County War Museum – Dal Estes Education Center in Pontiac.