[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 26 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 26

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

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;
Whereas the Purple Heart is awarded posthumously to the next of kin in the name 
        of members of the Armed Forces 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;
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 more than 1,535,000 Purple Hearts have been awarded to members of the 
        Armed Forces who fought in defense of freedom and democracy in World War 
        I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert 
        Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other 
        expeditionary conflicts;
Whereas approximately 550,000 recipients of the Purple Heart are alive today;
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 and is the only veterans' service 
        organization comprised strictly of combat veterans: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 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 
        courageous demonstrations of gallantry and heroism on behalf of 
        the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to take time 
        to learn about the Purple Heart and the honor, courage, and 
        bravery it symbolizes.

            Passed the Senate July 31, 2007.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            S. CON. RES. 26

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple 
     Heart and commending recipients of the Purple Heart for their 
  courageous demonstrations of gallantry and heroism on behalf of the 
                             United States.