Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8925-H8927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION
DAY

Mrs. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 27) supporting the
goals and ideals of ``National Purple Heart Recognition Day,'' as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
The text of the Senate concurrent resolution is as follows

S. Con. Res. 27

Whereas the Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration
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 action against an enemy of the United
States or are wounded while held as prisoners of war, and is
awarded posthumously to the next of kin of members of the
Armed Forces who are killed in action against an enemy of the
United States or who die of wounds received in action against
an enemy of the United States;
Whereas the Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782,
during the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington
issued an order establishing the Badge of Military Merit;

[[Page H8926]]

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 observing National Purple Heart Recognition Day is
a fitting tribute to George Washington and to the more than
1.5 million recipients of the Purple Heart: 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 in the United States to learn
about the history of the Purple Heart and to honor its
recipients; and
(3) calls upon the people of the United States to conduct
appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to
demonstrate support for members of the Armed Forces who have
been awarded the Purple Heart.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.

General Leave

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam 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
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 27, which
calls upon this Nation to take one day per year to honor those brave
warriors whose tremendous dedication and self-sacrifice have earned
them the Purple Heart.
As noted earlier today, the Purple Heart is awarded by a grateful
Nation to those brave soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen who have
been wounded in battle while protecting their fellow citizens from
enemies of the United States.
Established in 1792 during the Revolutionary War as the Badge of
Military Merit, this sacred metal was revived in 1932, 200 years after
the birth of George Washington. To date, there have been over 1.5
million recipients of the Purple Heart. This number gives me pause.
Over 1.5 million Americans have been wounded, injured, and some have
even given their lives so that we might stand here today as the oldest
democracy in the world. Their families have endured hardship; their
children have had to deal with fear and uncertainty that their brave
and heroic father or mother may not return from keeping them safe.
I cannot help but feel that we, as beneficiaries of this sacrifice,
owe these brave men and women time to reflect on the price of our
freedom. We should stand shoulder to shoulder with the military
families of this great Nation to recognize our military going into
harm's way, to pray for their safe return, and when that fateful moment
comes, to honor the bravery and the courage of warriors who did not
blink in the face of danger, but who sacrificed for the democratic
ideals that we cherish.
That is why a resolution supporting a national day to commemorate our
brave men and women who have so valiantly earned the Purple Heart has
been brought to the floor of Congress today.
I want to take this moment to recognize our colleagues in the other
body, the gentlewoman from New York, the honorable Mrs. Clinton, and
the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Hagel) for their sponsorship of this
resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that calls
upon all people in the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies,
activities and programs to demonstrate support, thanks and appreciation
for the estimated 1.5 million very special members of the Armed Forces,
past and present, who have been awarded the Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart is awarded only for those who are killed or wounded
in action against the United States of America. So it is fitting that
we honor and recognize their sacrifices on National Purple Heart
Recognition Day, as well as recall GEN George Washington's order 225
years ago on August 7, 1782, that established the Badge of Military
Merit, the predecessor of the Purple Heart.

{time} 2015

In 2001, in connection with the announcement of the creation of the
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, my former colleague, Ben Gilman, a
New York Representative, a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps,
made the following statement. It is a statement that for me helps to
put in context why we should make a special effort on National Purple
Heart Recognition Day. Congressman Gilman said: ``The Purple Heart is
probably the most recognizable military award in the United States.
Every school child knows the medal is awarded to our brave American
military who are wounded in the line of duty.''
If we are to ensure that Americans, even down to every school child,
continue to recognize the significance of the Purple Heart and the
sacrifices of the men and women who earned it, then we must make the
effort to commemorate and educate this and future generations. Support
for this resolution is one way to begin that effort.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Hall).
Mr. HALL of New York. Madam Speaker, National Purple Heart
Recognition Day is August 7, 2007. This year, we celebrate the 225th
anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit. This medal, the forerunner
of the modern Purple Heart, was designed by GEN George Washington in
his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, in the Hudson River Valley.
The badge, given for ``any singularly meritorious Action,'' was the
``figure of a Heart in Purple Cloth or Silk edged with narrow Lace or
Binding to be worn on the uniform coat above the left breast.''
After falling into disuse after the Revolutionary War, GEN Douglas
MacArthur had a new medal designed based on the Badge of Military
Merit. This medal, the modern Purple Heart, was awarded for meritorious
action or for receiving a wound in combat with the enemy.
Since that time, more than 1.5 million people have received the
Purple Heart. These men and women sacrificed for our country. Many
never came home. The Purple Heart recognizes their sacrifice and their
service protecting the rights and liberties we enjoy at home.
National Purple Heart Recognition Day serves to remind the country of
those who have suffered injury or death in the defense of our country.
It is always right to remember and honor those who have sacrificed, and
this resolution encourages Americans to learn more about the history of
the Purple Heart and its recipients.
This year, on National Purple Heart Recognition Day, recipients and
their families will come together at the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in
the town of New Windsor at the New Windsor Cantonment site in the
Hudson River Valley of New York, in New York's 19th Congressional
District, which I am proud to represent, and Orange County, a county
which the aforementioned Congressman Gilman represented so ably. There,
they will recognize the anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit, the
75th anniversary of the Purple Heart, and, most importantly, the price
that the recipients and their families have paid protecting our
country.
I ask that the House pass this resolution to recognize those who will
gather in New Windsor on August 7 to honor the sacrifices and suffering
of Purple Heart recipients and their families and to remember those who
paid the ultimate price and are no longer with us
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 27, as
amended.

[[Page H8927]]

The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution was concurred
in.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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