People around the world are thanking all of the fearless men and women who sacrificed so much for our country.
Advertisement
You may not know it, but August 7 is National Purple Heart Day. It wasn’t reinstated until 1932, the bicentennial of Washington’s birth, when War Department Secretary Douglas MacArthur announced it would have a new name – the Purple Heart – as well as a new design and goal. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. Past Commander of the Norfolk chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart John Earnest received a Purple Heart after injuries suffered while serving in the Marine Corps during Vietnam in 1968. It includes Washington’s family coat of arms, as well as “For Military Merit” inscribe in the heart, with space for the recipient’s engraved name.
Every year, Purple Heart recipients are nationally celebrated and commended on the date Washington originally established the award.
Ohio Rep. Frances Bolton awards the Purple Heart to fellow Ohioan Arthur Cassity during a 1944 trip to England.
The honor ensures that this “Forgotten War” hero will be remembered forever. Wounds must require medical attention in order to merit the Purple Heart. They bowed their heads and prayed together. Earnest says the Purple Heart is a tremendous honor for those in the military to receive.
Advertisement
The Badge of Military Merit was created to honor non-commissioned and enlisted soldiers who exhibited “not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way”.
