[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 49 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 49


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2007

                                Received

                             August 3, 2007

              Referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple 
 Heart and commending recipients of the Purple Heart for their courage 
             and sacrifice on behalf of the United States.

Whereas the Purple Heart is a combat decoration awarded to members of the Armed 
        Forces who are wounded by an instrument of war wielded by the enemy and 
        posthumously to the next of kin in the name of members who are killed in 
        action or die of wounds received in action;
Whereas the Purple Heart was originally conceived as the Badge of Military Merit 
        by General George Washington on August 7, 1782;
Whereas 2007 marks the 225th anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit, the 
        predecessor of the Purple Heart Medal;
Whereas the practice of awarding the Purple Heart was revived in 1932, the 200th 
        anniversary of George Washington's birth, out of respect for his memory 
        and military achievements;
Whereas over 1.5 million Purple Heart Medals have been awarded to members of the 
        Armed Forces fighting in defense of freedom and democracy in the Civil 
        War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean 
        War, the Vietnam War, Somalia, Bosnia, Operation Desert Storm, Operation 
        Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other expeditionary 
        conflicts;
Whereas the organization known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart was 
        formed on October 19, 1932, for the protection and mutual interest of 
        members of the Armed Forces who have received the Purple Heart; and
Whereas the Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed exclusively of 
        recipients of the Purple Heart: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) congratulates the Military Order of the Purple Heart on 
        its 75th anniversary as a national organization whose goals are 
        to preserve and sustain the honor of the Armed Forces;
            (2) commends all recipients of the Purple Heart for their 
        courage and sacrifice on behalf of the United States; and
            (3) encourages all Americans to take time to learn about 
        the Purple Heart and the honor, courage, and bravery it 
        symbolizes.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2007.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.