[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8779]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 26--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

  Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. Hagel) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 26

       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;
       Whereas the Purple Heart is awarded posthumously to the 
     next of kin in the name of members of the Armed Forces 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;
       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 more than 1,535,000 Purple Hearts have been awarded 
     to members of the Armed Forces who fought in defense of 
     freedom and democracy in World War I, World War II, the 
     Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, 
     Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 
     other expeditionary conflicts;
       Whereas approximately 550,000 recipients of the Purple 
     Heart are alive today;
       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 and is the only 
     veterans' service organization comprised strictly of combat 
     veterans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     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 
     courageous demonstrations of gallantry and heroism on behalf 
     of the United States; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to take time 
     to learn about the Purple Heart and the honor, courage, and 
     bravery it symbolizes.

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