A Rhode Island veterans’ advocate is walking the walk, literally, in an effort to raise awareness for Purple Heart veterans across America. On June 25, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post commander Joe “Tiger” Patrick inaugurated Rhode Island’s brand-new, 42-mile Purple Heart Trail on foot—in the rain, with a huge American flag over one shoulder. He wanted to be the first to hike the trail “as a right of passage,” in honor of Purple Heart veterans. “I have walked across the country on another patriotic mission, and this seemed like a very natural thing to do,” Patrick, 57, told The Epoch Times in an interview. After a year of Patrick spearheading meetings to get the trail in place, and delays owing to the pandemic, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation erected signs to mark the route in April. “I wanted to let people know in a unique way that the …