|
| |
DEPARTMENT OF IDAHO
MILITARY ORDER OF THE
PURPLE HEART
- MICHAEL GRIGSBY'S
- PURPLE HEART HOME PAGE
Permission granted to link this site to
your Webpage.
 -
-
- DEDICATED TO ALL PURPLE HEART VETERANS
-
- The purpose of this site is to honor and
assist Purple Heart recipients and veterans of all
branches of service.
-
 -
- BRIEF HISTORY: After
his victory over the British at Yorktown, Virginia,
General George Washington established his headquarters at
Newburgh NY, where he could keep a watchful eye on the
English forces in New York. He also continued his efforts
to improve the effectiveness of his troops and insure a
high state of morale. One of the ways in which he decided
to accomplish the latter was to create, on 7 August 1782,
a "Badge of Military Merit" for enlisted men
who had performed bravely in combat. It was designed by
M. Pierre Charles L Enfant who later was commissioned to
design the layout of the city of Washington, D.C. The
badge was fastened on a ribbon and would be placed about
the neck of a recipient when presented. When worn, it was
sewn to the left facing of the uniform coat.
Only three were ever issued. It was never
officially abolished, however the badge was allowed to
fall into disuse and was forgotten as no further awards
were made after the Revolutionary War.
The "Badge of Military Merit"
is the first U.S. Military award for valor without regard
to rank. It is the second oldest of such awards in the
world.
-
|
