[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16082]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               IN HONOR OF PURPLE HEART MEDAL RECIPIENTS

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize those 
veterans who have earned the Purple Heart Medal. My own State of 
Minnesota has recently decided to designate August 7, 2001 as a day to 
honor these veterans.
  The Purple Heart Medal was created by General George Washington and 
first awarded to soldiers who were wounded as a result of actions by an 
enemy of the United States. General Washington established the award on 
August 7, 1782. The Purple Heart Medal is still awarded to members of 
our Nation's armed forces who are wounded while protecting our Nation 
and democracy.
  Our Government issues several medals to soldiers for bravery, good 
conduct and efficiency. However, the Purple Heart Medal is unique in 
the fact that a soldier who is awarded this medal received a wound as a 
result of hostile actions by an enemy of our Nation. As a U.S. Senator 
and a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I have had the 
opportunity to personally thank many of the Purple Heart Medal 
recipients in the State of Minnesota for the sacrifice they made for 
our Nation and democracy. I believe that every recipient of this 
distinguished award should also receive appropriate acknowledgment from 
the Senate.
  I invite all members of the Senate to join me and urge all 50 States 
to hold appropriate ceremonies to honor their Purple Heart Medal 
recipients.

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