George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle. It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart is one of the oldest military decorations in the United States, with its origins dating back to the American Revolutionary War. On August 7, 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, a heart-shaped cloth insignia made of purple fabric. The award was created to recognize enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers for “any singularly meritorious action.” This was a remarkable innovation at the time, as military honors in the 18th century were usually reserved for officers or members of the nobility. Only three soldiers are known to have received the Badge of Military Merit before it fell into disuse after the war.

For nearly 150 years, the award remained dormant until renewed interest in preserving George Washington’s legacy led to its revival. In 1932, on the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth, the U.S. War Department re-established the decoration as the Purple Heart. Designed by Army heraldic expert Elizabeth Will and sculptor John R. Sinnock, the medal features a purple heart-shaped design with a profile of George Washington. Initially, the revived Purple Heart was awarded to members of the U.S. Army who had been wounded in combat or who had demonstrated exceptionally meritorious service since April 5, 1917.

The criteria for the Purple Heart soon evolved to focus exclusively on combat wounds. During World War II, the medal became one of the most widely recognized U.S. military decorations, awarded to service members who were wounded or killed as a direct result of enemy action. Eligibility was later extended to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Over the decades, Congress and the Department of Defense expanded the award’s scope to include individuals injured by international terrorist attacks or while serving in peacekeeping operations under certain conditions. However, the decoration has always retained its central purpose of recognizing the sacrifice of those injured or killed while serving their country in combat.

Today, the Purple Heart is regarded as one of the most respected military decorations in the United States because it symbolizes sacrifice rather than achievement. Unlike many medals, it is not awarded for heroism or length of service but for the physical and emotional cost of combat. Since its modern reintroduction in 1932, an estimated two million or more Purple Hearts have been awarded to American service members from World War I through conflicts including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other military operations. The medal remains a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who have been wounded or have given their lives in the service of the United States.