Veterans News
Purple Heart Day
By Michael Schlesinger
To honor the brave men and women who have suffered injuries or paid the ultimate sacrifice of death while serving their country, August 7th has been designated Purple Heart Day. California was the nation's first Purple Heart State. In 2014, Purple Heart Day became a national holiday.
The Purple Heart is the oldest American military medal still awarded. It is awarded for "being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces." General George Washington created the Badge of Merit in 1782. Washington intended the honor to be presented to soldiers for "any singularly meritorious action." Its design included a purple, heart-shaped piece of
silk bound with a thin edge of silver. Across the face, the word Merit was embroidered in silver. During the American Revolutionary War, the Badge for Military Merit decorated six known soldiers. More