[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 4, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S8774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 239--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF ``NATIONAL 
                     PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY''

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mr. Sessions, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 239

       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 to a member of the Armed Forces who is wounded in a 
     conflict with an enemy force or is wounded while held by an 
     enemy force as a prisoner of war, and is awarded posthumously 
     to the next of kin of a member of the Armed Forces who is 
     killed in a conflict with an enemy force or who dies of 
     wounds received in a 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 the birth of George Washington, 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 
     1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart, approximately 
     550,000 of whom are still living: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (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.

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