KristynWe at MyMilitarySavings.com are always looking for ways to give back to our
community. Whether it is giving you great deals, recipes, or even a little chuckle in
one of our blogs, our hearts are always in it to help you. So when we heard that
Purple Heart Day is coming up, and we knew we had to share the importance of this day
with you all.
community. Whether it is giving you great deals, recipes, or even a little chuckle in
one of our blogs, our hearts are always in it to help you. So when we heard that
Purple Heart Day is coming up, and we knew we had to share the importance of this day
with you all.
Purple Heart Day is celebrated on August 7th as a way to honor and give back to
those who bravely represented their country and were wounded or killed while
defending their country. Since 2014, this day has been celebrated all over the
nation in many different ways.
those who bravely represented their country and were wounded or killed while
defending their country. Since 2014, this day has been celebrated all over the
nation in many different ways.
This day of celebration has only been in practice for the last 9 years, but the award
(or its likeness) has been around since 1782. George Washington himself awarded 3
of the original Purple Hearts, designated then as a Badge of Merit, to honor enlisted
and deserving people for a singular meritorious action. This award was a piece of
silk bound through it with a thin edge of silver. Among Washington awarding the
Badges of Merit, he also authorized others to grant the award to those they saw fit.
The use of this Badge of Merit faded over the years, but in 1932 it was revived
and relaunched into the Purple Heart we all know today. As well as honoring those
wounded in combat, this iteration of the Purple Heart recognized commendable
action. Then 1944 the Purple Heart was given the purpose we know it for today,
specifically to honor those who have been wounded or died.
of the original Purple Hearts, designated then as a Badge of Merit, to honor enlisted
and deserving people for a singular meritorious action. This award was a piece of
silk bound through it with a thin edge of silver. Among Washington awarding the
Badges of Merit, he also authorized others to grant the award to those they saw fit.
The use of this Badge of Merit faded over the years, but in 1932 it was revived
and relaunched into the Purple Heart we all know today. As well as honoring those
wounded in combat, this iteration of the Purple Heart recognized commendable
action. Then 1944 the Purple Heart was given the purpose we know it for today,
specifically to honor those who have been wounded or died.
Do you know who was the first service member to be given the modern Purple
Heart? I’ll give you a hint- he is buried in Norfolk, VA where there is a memorial,
museum, and research center dedicated to his life. Go ahead and guess (I’ll also
give you a minute to Google it)
Heart? I’ll give you a hint- he is buried in Norfolk, VA where there is a memorial,
museum, and research center dedicated to his life. Go ahead and guess (I’ll also
give you a minute to Google it)
::Cue Jeopardy Music::
Who is General Douglas MacArthur? Ding Ding! You guessed it!
General Douglas MacArthur was awarded the first modern Purple Heart for his
service in the Pacific during World War II.
service in the Pacific during World War II.
Another trivia question. Who was the first woman to receive a Purple Heart?
::Cue Jeopardy Music::
Who is Beatrice Mary MacDonald? Ding Ding! You’ve done it again!
Beatrice Mary McDonald was a World War l nurse who is one of the most highly
decorated women of World War I. Mary was awarded the Purple Heart in 1936,
many years after the war had been over.
Since then There have been a total of 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded. Now do
you see why we need a day to celebrate every single person that has received this
honor?
So I bet you are wondering what you can do to honor these incredible men and
women. I went ahead and googled Purple Heart Day events by me and I suggest
that you do the same. I found that the Virginia War Memorial Foundation is doing an
online Purple Heart Day from 2:00 to 3:00 PM on August 7th. You can discuss the
Purple Heart with the Virginia War Memorial operations director military order of the
Purple Heart Virginia department commander Ben King. Just take a moment and
look at what is available in your area, or just take a moment to think of all those
brave men and women of the past, and those who will come in the future.
Purple Heart with the Virginia War Memorial operations director military order of the
Purple Heart Virginia department commander Ben King. Just take a moment and
look at what is available in your area, or just take a moment to think of all those
brave men and women of the past, and those who will come in the future.
Lasonja Williams
Kate
