[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 26 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 26
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 12, 2007
Mrs. Clinton (for herself and Mr. Hagel) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was 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
courageous demonstrations of gallantry and heroism 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;
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.
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