MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART ~ HAPPY DAY!

WE CELEBRATE AMERICA'S PURPLE HEART VETERANS !

August 7 marks National Purple Heart Day, a day that commemorates the 1782 creation of the honor, which is awarded to valiant soldiers who were injured or killed in combat.

More specifically, the award was created in Newburgh, NY by General George Washington, who at the time was the commander in chief of the Continental Army.

The award was technically called the "Badge for Military Merit" and it was meant to be presented to soldiers for "any singularly meritorious action." It permitted its recipients to pass guards and sentinels without being questioned or challenged.

Originally, Washington only awarded the purple heart to three soldiers -- as far as we know -- during the Revolutionary War: Elijah Churchill, William Brown and Daniel Bissel Jr.

Interestingly enough, after awarding the Purple Heart to these soldiers, the "Book of Merit" was lost and the award was forgotten. That is, until 1927, when General Charles P. Summerall, the U.S. Army chief of staff sent a draft bill to Congress requesting that they "revive the Badge of Military Merit".

Although his efforts were unsuccessful, his successor, General Douglas MacArthur, made an effort to pick up where Summerall left off. He aimed to reinstate the medal just in time for the bicentennial of George Washington's birthday.

His efforts proved to be successful when the U.S. War Department announced the creation of the "Order of the Purple Heart" on February 22, 1932 -- the day that would be Washington's 200th birthday.

 OUR PURPLE HEART HEROBRACELET