Purple Heart Day is observed on Aug. 7 each year and is a time for Americans to remember and honor the brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Purple Heart Day is also known as National Purple Heart Day, Purple Heart Recognition Day, and Purple Heart Appreciation Day.
Purple Heart Day will be observed on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.
The holiday was first observed in 2014 and is considered an unofficial observance meaning that businesses, government offices, etc. do not close on this day.
Criteria For Receiving a Purple Heart
The Purple Heart has a long list of criteria for eligibility-too long to list here. But in general, it may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have been wounded, killed in action, or have died or may die from wounds received in any action against the United States, action with an opposing armed force, the results of any hostile “foreign force” and many other situations where men and women in uniform may find themselves under attack.
In general, the Purple Heart is awarded for injuries sustained because of an enemy attack. Injuries sustained for other reasons not related to things “not caused by enemy agents” are generally not acceptable as grounds for receiving the Purple Heart, though friendly fire injuries do qualify as long as the friendly fire was intended for the enemy. The Purple Heart is now given to persons who are injured, wounded, or died while a prisoner of war (POW).
History of The Purple Heart’s Long And Winding Road
The Purple Heart began as something called the Badge of Military Merit, an honor created by General George Washington in 1782. The honor was only presented to enlisted soldiers who had performed a “singularly meritorious action.” Only a handful of these were awarded, and following the American Revolution, the Badge of Military Merit didn’t become a permanent fixture among the various other awards and decorations given to those who served.
But the spirit of the Badge of Military Merit would be honored again in 1932 when the Purple Heart award was created to honor the bicentennial of George Washington’s birthday. World War One saw the first Purple Hearts awarded to soldiers, presented on the site of the final encampment of the Continental Army in Windsor, New York.
The Purple Heart took many years to evolve into what it is known today. When General Douglas MacArthur signed General Order #3 establishing the modern Purple Heart, it was not authorized to be awarded to anyone except those serving in the Army or the Army Air Corps. A presidential order signed in 1942 opened the Purple Heart to all branches of the military including the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Modern Purple Heart
World War Two saw the Purple Heart change from an award for meritorious service to one honoring those wounded or killed in combat. Criteria for receiving a Purple Heart has also changed over the years; military members may be eligible for this honor if they are wounded or killed because of an act of terrorism or in qualifying circumstances where friendly fire was involved.
Source: https://veteran.com/purple-heart-day/
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