[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION 
                                  DAY

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Armed Services 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 112, 
and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 112) supporting the 
     goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consideration of 
the concurrent resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
on the table with no intervening action or debate, and any statements 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 112) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 112

       Whereas 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 are 
     wounded while held by an enemy force as prisoners 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;
       Whereas the award of the Purple Heart ceased with the end 
     of the Revolutionary War, but was revived in 1932, the 200th 
     anniversary of George Washington's birth, out of respect for 
     his memory and military achievements; and
       Whereas National Purple Heart Recognition Day is a fitting 
     tribute to George Washington and to the more than 1,535,000 
     recipients of the Purple Heart, approximately 550,000 of whom 
     are still living: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart 
     Recognition Day;
       (2) encourages all people of the United States to learn 
     about the history of the Purple Heart 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 people who have been awarded the 
     Purple Heart.

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