[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15360-15361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  TRIBUTE TO THE ARKANSAS MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE 
                                 HEART

 Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, it is my distinct privilege to 
recognize and pay tribute to the heroes of Arkansas who have been 
awarded the Purple Heart. This distinguished group of Americans are the 
recipient of our nation's earliest military decoration and the oldest 
in the world in present use. The Purple Heart is a combat decoration 
awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of 
the armed forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands 
of the enemy.

[[Page 15361]]

  The Purple Heart was originated by General George Washington in 1782 
to recognize ``instances of unusual gallantry.'' Referred to then as 
the Badge of Military Merit, the decoration was awarded only three 
times during the Revolutionary War. The modern Purple Heart was brought 
into existence by Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur. The 
medal was designed by Miss Elizabeth Will, in the Office of the 
Quartermaster General, and was introduced by the War Department on 
February 22, 1932, the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.
  The Military Order of the Purple Heart provides a loud and clear 
voice on behalf of veterans and the issues that concern them. The 
crucial work that they do reminds us of just how precious freedom is, 
and that those who have unselfishly risked everything in freedom's name 
are worthy of every benefit a grateful nation can afford.
  On behalf of the United States Senate, I thank the Arkansas members 
of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for the sacrifices that they 
have made in defense of this great nation. 

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