The Purple Heart is one of the most recognized military decorations in the United States, with its distinct shape and color pattern. Currently, the Purple Heart is one of the oldest military awards still being used, backed by a rich history at the start of our great nation. Continue reading to learn more about the Purple Heart, its origins, and how we use it today.

What is the Purple Heart?

The Purple Heart is a military decoration in the United States awarded to service members who were wounded or killed during their time in the military. Of all the awards service members can be given, the Purple Heart is one of the most well-known and respected. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President.

When Was the Purple Heart Created?

The origins of the modern-day Purple Heart goes all the way back to the American Revolution. On August 7, 1782, George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit to recognize the merit of service members, and was awarded to three verified Revolutionary War soldiers.

After these awards and the end of the Revolutionary War, the Badge of Military Merit was mostly forgotten until the emergence of the 20th century. On October 10, 1927, General Charles Pelot Summerall wanted to revive the Badge of Military Merit and sent a draft bill to Congress, but the bill was withdrawn shortly after.

It wasn’t until February 22, 1932, that the President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, signed an executive order to revive the Badge of Military Merit as the Purple Heart on the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Over two million service members have been awarded the Purple Heart, and almost 500,000 have been awarded the medal posthumously.

How Has the Eligibility for the Purple Heart Changed?

Over the years, the eligibility for the Purple Heart has changed. For example, the Purple Heart couldn’t be given posthumously or received by the service member’s family when it was first started. The merit was also awarded based on commendable action or given to service members wounded or killed in combat.

The qualifications for the Purple Heart changed in 1942 when the requirements were defined as service members who were injured or killed in action, regardless of their branch of service. It also became possible to grant posthumous Purple Hearts.

Since then, the eligibility for the Purple Heart has evolved and continues to do so to this day. Currently, the following criteria must be met for a current or former service member to receive the military decoration:

●Be wounded, injured, or killed due to enemy hostile action, terrorist attacks, or friendly fire.

●Requires treatment from medical officials.

●Medical treatments have been documented as official military records.

The Purple Heart can be awarded to service members from any branch, including Officers and Enlisted.

Honoring Those Who Lay Down Their Lives for Our Country at MLC

Those of us at MLC want to express our gratitude and appreciation to those who make the greatest sacrifice for our country. We are grateful that we live in a nation with an award that honors the selfless acts and outstanding service of our troops. At MLC, we will continue to support active duty service members, veterans, and their families. The Purple Heart has withstood the test of time, and we hope to continue seeing this military commemoration being used to honor our nation’s heroes.