| Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. News: 08/07/2013 09:30 AM CDT Contact: Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office Office: 608-242-3050 or Cell: 608-516-1777 NEWS: Wisconsin, nation observe Purple Heart Day August 7, 2013 The Purple Heart Medal - presented to 181 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen since the global war on terror began in 2001 - is sometimes referred to as "the medal no one really wants to earn," but an examination of the medal's history might change that opinion. The Purple Heart is considered the oldest known U.S. military decoration still in use. It dates back to Aug. 7, 1782, when Gen. George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit, a heart-shaped embroidered purple cloth or silk. Washington conceived the Badge of Military Merit to recognize a "singularly meritorious action ... not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way." The badge was awarded to only three Continental Army Soldiers, all noncommissioned officers - in contrast with the European practice of reserving military honors for high-ranking officers only. "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is ... open to all," Washington said of his decision to allow anyone in the Continental Army to be considered for the award. The Badge of Military Merit was not issued again after the Revolutionary War, but it was not officially revoked as a military award. It remained dormant until Oct. 10, 1927, when Army Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Summerall asked Congress to revive the award. The bill was withdrawn on Jan. 3, 1928, but three years later the next Army chief of staff, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, took up the effort again. Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist with the Office of the Quartermaster General, created the design sketch for the medal. John Sinnock of the Philadelphia Mint produced the winning model, which featured a relief profile of Washington on a purple enamel heart surrounded by a quarter-inch bronze border. The back of the medal bears the words "For Military Merit," maintaining its connection to the Badge of Military Merit. President Herbert Hoover's executive order dated Feb. 22, 1932 revived the medal on the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. Gen. MacArthur was the first recipient of the Purple Heart. Soldiers awarded the Meritorious Service Citation Certificate, the Army Wound Ribbon or Wound Chevron after April 5, 1917 were authorized to request the Purple Heart Medal. The medal continued to be awarded for both meritorious duty performance as well as wounds received in combat action through the first 12 months of U.S. involvement in World War II. After Congress established the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart was authorized only for those wounded in action, but it was made available to all service members. While no longer awarded for merit, the Purple Heart implicitly recognizes the merit of service members wounded while serving their nation in harm's way. It remains a highly regarded decoration, ranking immediately behind the Bronze Star and ahead of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs.
|
Wisconsin, nation observe Purple Heart Day
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment