Purple Heart Day
August 7
By Sarah Lane
Feb 23, 2006, 07:05 PST
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Purple Heart Day – August 7th
The Medal of Honor that is now the Purple Heart actually began as the ‘Badge of Military Merit.’ On
August 7th, 1782 in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington
designed a new badge of distinction for enlisted men and noncommissioned
officers. They were awarded for
‘any singularly meritorious action.’ The badge was a figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk,
edged with narrow lace or binding.
It was pinned to a uniform coat above the left breast. That was then, this is now.
On January 7th of the year 1931, a new design was
reopened. Ms. Elizabeth Will, an
army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quarter, created the design
sketch for the present medal of the Purple Heart. It consists of a purple enameled heart within a bronze
quarter inch border showing a relief profile of George Washington in
continental uniform.
Washington’s family coat of arms adorns the medal, along with an
inscription inside the heart that reads, ‘For Military Merit.’
The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the Armed
Forces that has been wounded or killed, died as a result of a wound in battle,
or otherwise designated by the President of the United States. This now includes those persons killed
as a result of friendly fire. Now
we celebrate Purple Heart Day on the anniversary of its inception, August 7th. On this day it is our patriotic duty to
remember and recognize those people willing to serve our country, no matter the
price.
Source: U.S.
Army, Center for Military History, The American War Library
Additional Resources on the Purple Heart for
Adults
Recipient
Registry
This is the American Purple Heart Wound Chevron Registry
Form. This Registry is trying to collect the names of
every American awarded the Purple Heart medal for injuries sustained in battle
against enemy forces.
Source: Veterans, AOL
Issue Regulations - Purple Heart
Source: The American War
Library
Veterans Affairs
All the info you need to know about Veteran’s Affairs
is here. Search the directory for forms, hotlines, benefits, services, health care, and eligibility.
Source: Department of Veterans
Affairs
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