[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8927-H8928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 49) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows

                            H. Con. Res. 49

       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 and posthumously to the next of 
     kin in the name of members 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 Medal;
       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 over 1.5 million Purple Heart Medals have been 
     awarded to members of the Armed Forces fighting in defense of 
     freedom and democracy in the Civil War, the Spanish-American 
     War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam 
     War, Somalia, Bosnia, Operation Desert Storm, Operation 
     Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other 
     expeditionary conflicts;
       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: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     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 
     courage and sacrifice on behalf of the United States; and
       (3) encourages all Americans to take time to learn about 
     the Purple Heart and the honor, courage, and bravery it 
     symbolizes.

  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.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
49, introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), my 
good friend and colleague on the House Armed Services Committee.
  This resolution honors the men and women in the Armed Forces who have 
demonstrated selfless and heroic acts on the field of battle. They are 
recipients of the Purple Heart. I am also proud to be a cosponsor of 
this resolution that so rightly honors those in uniform who sacrifice 
so much for our country.
  This year marks the 75th anniversary of a medal awarded to soldiers, 
marines, airmen and sailors who have been wounded or killed by an enemy 
in combat. To date, over 1.5 million members of the Armed Forces have 
been awarded the Purple Heart, or its predecessor, the Badge of 
Military Merit, in conflicts spanning from the Civil War to the 
present-day Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war on terrorism.
  The Purple Heart was revived in 1932 on the 200th anniversary of 
President George Washington's birth. Originally awarded only to Army 
soldiers in 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt extended the 
honor to all military services. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy 
extended the honor to civilians working alongside the military in the 
time of war.
  The Purple Heart is recognized as the oldest military honor in the 
United States that is still in use and the first to be given to any 
soldier who is wounded or killed by an enemy of the United States.
  Faced with situations from which most people would shrink, our 
Nation's warriors have gone boldly into battle and met democracy's 
enemies with a fierce commitment to protect those liberties that allow 
all of us to stand here today. They recognized the truth so often 
overlooked by their fellow citizens: a free Nation requires constant 
protection and constant protectors.
  Even in our modern age, complete with all the technology that human 
intellect can muster, our men and women in the Armed Forces continue to 
prove that it is selfless and patriotic citizens that must ultimately 
stand tall to protect our great Nation.
  Formed in 1932, the Military Order of the Purple Heart has the solemn 
obligation and duty to foster an environment of goodwill among combat-
wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative 
initiatives, and, most importantly, provide service to all veterans and 
their families. It fulfills this mission through community and 
volunteer efforts and by employing low-income combat veterans. Their 
sacrifice and dedication to this country are a testament to the quality 
of individuals who volunteer to serve our Nation in uniform.
  So it is important that we honor this sacrifice by congratulating the 
Military Order of the Purple Heart on its 75th anniversary, commend all 
recipients of the Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifice on 
behalf of the United States, and encourage all Americans to take time 
to learn about the Purple Heart and the honor, the courage, and the 
bravery it symbolizes.
  I would also like to note that the Guam Chapter of the Military Order 
of the Purple Heart has been a tremendous community leader for all 
veterans on Guam. Their voice is heard through representation on the 
Guam Veterans Advisory Council. Our Guam chapter is also accredited to 
provide assistance to veterans who are applying for VA benefits. The 
group has been a critical partner for our Nation's most deserving, and 
we know that the Military Order of the Purple Heart has stood just as 
strong in communities across the Nation.
  At this time, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Jones, the 
sponsor, for his leadership in this cause.
  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 thank the gentlewoman from Guam for her very kind 
remarks and comments.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of my resolution that honors 
the Military Order of the Purple Heart on its 75th anniversary. The 
Purple Heart was originally conceived as the Badge of Military Merit by 
GEN George Washington on August 7, 1782. However, it had fallen into 
disuse after the Revolutionary War.
  The practice of awarding the Purple Heart was revived in 1932, as the 
gentlewoman said, at the 200th anniversary of George Washington's 
birth. The organization now known as the Military Order of the Purple 
Heart was also formed in 1932 for the protection and the mutual 
interest of all who have received the decoration. This year will mark 
the 75th anniversary of fostering an environment of goodwill and 
comradery among combat-wounded veterans.
  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 and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of members who 
are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.

[[Page H8928]]

  Over 1.5 million Purple Heart medals have been awarded to members of 
the Armed Forces fighting in defense of freedom and democracy. Today, 
more than 500,000 recipients of the Purple Heart are still living.
  By this resolution, Congress 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. It 
strongly commends all recipients of the Purple Heart for their courage 
and sacrifice. Americans should take time to learn about the Purple 
Heart and the honor, courage, and bravery it symbolizes
  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 agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 49, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple 
Heart and commending recipients of the Purple Heart for their courage 
and sacrifice on behalf of the United States.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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