National Purple Heart Day honors the legacy of the oldest American military award
Born in the heat of the American Revolution, the Purple Heart remains a powerful symbol of sacrifice and the oldest military award in the United States still presented to service members today.
National Purple Heart Day commemorates the creation of the 'Badge of Military Merit' by George Washington on August 7, 1782. Washington designed the original silk heart himself to honor soldiers for 'singularly meritorious action,' a rare move during an era when medals were typically reserved for high-ranking officers. The award eventually fell into disuse for nearly 150 years until it was revived in 1932 to mark the bicentennial of Washington's birth.
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