[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6702-H6704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS OF STATE OF NEW YORK TO DEVELOP 
                  NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 419) recognizing and supporting the 
efforts of the State of New York to develop the National Purple Heart 
Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows

                            H. Con. Res. 419

       Whereas George Washington, at his headquarters in Newburgh, 
     New York, on August 7, 1782, devised a Badge of Military 
     Merit to be given to enlisted men and noncommissioned 
     officers for meritorious action;
       Whereas the Badge of Military Merit became popularly known 
     as the ``Purple Heart'' because it consisted of the figure of 
     a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or 
     binding and was affixed to the uniform coat over the left 
     breast;
       Whereas Badges of Military Merit were awarded during the 
     Revolutionary War by General George Washington at his 
     headquarters, in Newburgh, New York, on May 3 and June 8, 
     1783;

[[Page H6703]]

       Whereas the Badge of Military Merit, an award for military 
     merit in the Revolutionary War, is the inspiration for 
     today's Purple Heart medal;
       Whereas on the bicentennial of General Washington's 
     birthday in February 1932, the Badge of Military Merit was 
     redesignated by General Douglas MacArthur, then Chief of 
     Staff of the Army, as the Purple Heart, to be awarded to 
     persons killed or wounded in action against an enemy of the 
     United States;
       Whereas more than 800,000 members of the Armed Forces have 
     been awarded the Purple Heart;
       Whereas the State of New York has dedicated substantial 
     resources to the creation of the National Purple Heart Hall 
     of Honor to be constructed at the New Windsor Cantonment, a 
     New York State Historic Site, in New Windsor, New York, to 
     honor those individuals who have been awarded the Purple 
     Heart and to inform and educate the people of the United 
     States about the history and importance of that distinguished 
     combat award;
       Whereas the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will be a 
     permanent place of remembrance of the service and sacrifices 
     made by the members of the Armed Forces wounded or killed in 
     service to America throughout the Nation's history, both at 
     home and abroad; and
       Whereas as the Nation continues to defend the American Way, 
     there will be a need for a distinguished place to honor those 
     who in the future are awarded the Purple Heart for their 
     service and sacrifice: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes and supports the efforts of the State of New 
     York to develop and maintain the National Purple Heart Hall 
     of Honor in New Windsor, New York, to honor those individuals 
     who have been awarded the Purple Heart and to inform and 
     educate the people of the United States about the history and 
     importance of that distinguished combat award; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States as well as 
     Federal departments and agencies to cooperate, assist, and 
     participate in educating and informing individuals about the 
     history and importance of the Purple Heart and about the 
     National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 419, 
recognizing and supporting the efforts of the State of New York to 
develop the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New 
York.
  Mr. Speaker, let me first take just a moment to thank my colleague 
and good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), and the 
State of New York for establishing a place for Americans to come and 
honor those men and women of our military who have sacrificed so much 
for America. They are the individuals who fight for us, who sweat for 
us, who bleed for us, and, sadly and unfortunately, sometimes who die 
for us.
  The Purple Heart is a unique symbol that recognizes the sacrifices 
made by the men and women of the Armed Forces, sacrifices made for the 
freedoms this great country offers, freedoms not just for themselves, 
but for future generations of Americans.
  It is only fitting that we have a place such as the National Purple 
Heart Hall of Honor to honor those men and women so that future 
generations can go there and learn about those fine young Americans who 
have ensured that we can all live free.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 419, which recognizes the efforts of the State of New York 
to establish the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
  And, I recognize the gentlewoman from New York, Mrs. Sue Kelly, the 
sponsor of this measure for her efforts. One might wonder why the state 
of New York is leading the effort to establish a center that focuses on 
the history and importance of this honored military award. The reason 
is simple, in the summer of 1782, during the Revolutionary War; General 
George Washington devised two new badges, one of which was the Badge of 
Military Merit, which we know today as the Purple Heart.
  General Washington at the time wrote ``. . . whenever any singularly 
meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to 
wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in 
purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding.'' Three 
soldiers are known to have received the original honor badge, Sergeant 
Daniel Bissell of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line, 
Sergeant William Brown of the 5th Connectivity Regiment of the 
Continental Line, and Sergeant Elijah Churchill of the 2nd Continental 
Dragoons, also a Connecticut regiment. However, after the Revolution, 
the award feels into disuse and was not proposed for use again until 
after World War I.
  In 1927, Army Chief of Staff General Charles P. Summerall directed 
that proposed legislation be sent to Congress to revive the Badge of 
Military Merit. However, it was not until 1931, when General 
Summerall's successor, General Douglas MacArthur pushed forward the 
idea to reinstitute the badge. It was on the 200th anniversary of 
George Washington's birth, February 22, 1932, that the War Department 
announced General Order No. 3, which established the Purple Heart.
  In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt extended the award to the 
Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and established a uniform 
application of standards in the Army and Navy. President Harry S. 
Truman retroactively extended the eligibility for the Navy, Marine 
Corps, and Coast Guard back to April 5, 1917, and in 1962, President 
John F. Kennedy extended eligibility to any ``civilian national of the 
United States, who while serving under competent authority in any 
capacity with an armed force . . ., has been, or may hereafter be, 
wounded'' to qualify for the Purple Heart.
  Mr. Speaker, the Purple Heart has an illustrious career and it is 
recognition of the enemy-related injuries a service member sustains. 
Today, there are more than 800,000 members of the Armed Forces who have 
been awarded the Purple Heart. The State of New York has been working 
to establish a National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at the New Windsor 
Cantonment in New Windsor, New York to provide a permanent place of 
remembrance of the service and sacrifices made by men and women in 
uniform throughout our nation's history. This resolution before us 
recognizes the efforts of the State of New York, and encourages the 
education and information on the history and importance of this 
distinguished combat award.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly).
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to encourage my colleagues to join me 
in honoring the extraordinary sacrifices made by American's veterans by 
voting ``yes'' on H. Con. Res 419.
  This resolution supports the establishment of a National Purple Heart 
Hall of Honor in the birthplace of the Purple Heart in New Windsor, New 
York. The Purple Heart is the oldest and one of the most prestigious 
honors bestowed upon an American soldier. By passing this legislation 
today, we recognize the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have 
received this honor.
  The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will uniquely highlight the 
stories of the Purple Heart veterans. Every Purple Heart veteran is a 
hero whose story needs to be hold. By hearing these stories we can 
fully honor their sacrifices and learn from their experiences. The 
stories will echo within the halls of the National Purple Heart Hall of 
Honor, and they should inspire our Nation not only to preserve the 
legacy of our military heroes, but to better appreciate the freedoms 
for which they fought.
  The Hall of Honor is scheduled to be officially dedicated November 
10. It will be located at New Windsor Cantonment, the site in my 
congressional district. This is the site of the last encampment of the 
Continental Army, where General George Washington first presented the 
Badge of Military Merit in 1782. Since then more than 800,000 members 
of the Armed Forces have been awarded this medal, which is now called 
the Purple Heart. It is an honor reserved for those soldiers who are 
wounded or killed while defending the greatest of our principles, 
freedom.

[[Page H6704]]

  New York State has done a great deal to make the National Purple 
Heart Hall of Honor a reality. Governor George Pataki and Bernadette 
Castro, our State's park and recreation preservation commissioner, led 
the effort. Our State's senator, Senator Bill Larkin, a retired 
lieutenant colonel with 23 years of Active Duty in the United States 
Army, has been a true champion in working on siting the Purple Heart 
Hall of Honor in New Windsor.
  I am also grateful for the efforts of the military personnel 
subcommittee chairman, John McHugh of New York, who helped bring this 
legislation to the floor today.
  I want to thank especially Rick Weeks, the State commander of the New 
York Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Military 
Order contributed $500,000 toward the construction of the Hall of 
Honor.
  I will insert this letter of support from the National Military Order 
of the Purple Heart in the Record.
  Commander Weeks was also instrumental in gathering support for this 
resolution. I thank him very much.
  While the Hall of Honor is in New York, it is important to remember 
it is a national institution that will celebrate the sacrifices of 
soldiers and veterans who have lived in all areas of our country. 
Passage of this resolution today, as our troops are courageously 
fighting overseas to defend and preserve democracy, will send a strong 
message to our Armed Forces and our veterans that our Nation is 
grateful and continues to be grateful for the sacrifices made by our 
military men and women.
                                                 Military Order of


                                             the Purple Heart,

                                  Springfield, VA, August 1, 2006.
     Chairman Duncan Hunter,
     House Armed Services Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Military Order of the Purple Heart 
     (MOPH) is in total support of H. Con. Res. 419, which has 
     been referred to your committee. This resolution recognizes 
     and encourages support for the National Purple Heart Hall of 
     Honor. This Hall of Honor, while located in New York, is 
     really a national effort and one that will recognize and 
     honor all our country's men and women who have been 
     recipients of the Purple Heart Medal for their death or 
     wounds received in combat.
       MOPH urges you and your colleagues on the committee to 
     support this very worthwhile endeavor in a timely manner.
           Respectfully,
                                                 James D. Randles,
                                               National Commander.

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I fully endorse, and I know Members in this 
Chamber do, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support 
H. Con. Res. 419, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res 419, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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