Today we salute all the brave men and women who have been wounded or killed in battle.
The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed in service. It is the oldest military medal in the world in present use.
Origins of the medal can be traced back to 1782 when President George Washington pinned heart-shaped purple cloths on a trio of Revolutionary War soldiers who had been injured in battle.
The official use of the medal began in 1932 with the founding of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization chartered by Congress for combat-wounded veterans. That year also marked the first distribution of the enameled Purple Heart medal featuring Washington’s profile.
On July 24, 2012, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed an official proclamation designating August 7th Purple Heart Day in Wisconsin. The proclamation read:
“The governor shall annually proclaim August 7 as Purple Heart Day and uge the people and organizations of the state to display the American flag on that day as a public expression of the recognition of those individuals who have been wounded or killed in action preserving the freedoms that all United States citizens cherish.”
For more information about Purple Heart Day visit: http://dva.state.wi.us/PA-PurpleHeart.asp
