[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 40 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 40

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as the 
        Purple Heart, is the oldest military decoration in the world in present 
        use;
Whereas the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United 
        States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with 
        an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, 
        and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who 
        are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound 
        received in conflict with an enemy force;
Whereas the Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782, during the 
        Revolutionary War, when General George Washington issued an order 
        establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known as the 
        Badge of Military Merit, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart;
Whereas the award of the Purple Heart ceased with the end of the Revolutionary 
        War, but was revived out of respect for the memory and military 
        achievements of George Washington in 1932, the 200th anniversary of his 
        birth; and
Whereas the designation of August 7, 2003, as ``National Purple Heart 
        Recognition Day'' is a fitting tribute to General Washington, and to the 
        over 1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, approximately 
        550,000 of whom are still living: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) designates August 7, 2003, as ``National Purple Heart 
        Recognition Day'';
            (2) encourages all Americans to learn about the history of 
        the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit and to honor 
        its recipients; and
            (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
        appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate 
        support for the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit.

            Passed the Senate July 25 (legislative day, July 21), 2003.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            S. CON. RES. 40

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

  Designating August 7, 2003, as ``National Purple Heart Recognition 
                                 Day''.