[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20704]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 239, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 239) supporting the goals and ideals 
     of ``National Purple Heart Recognition Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to thank two of my colleagues, 
Senators Lincoln and Crapo for introducing the Senate resolution 
designating August 7, 2009, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
  I am proud to support the commemoration of our Nation's Purple Heart 
recipients by granting them and their families a much deserved day of 
recognition. More than one and a half million Americans have earned the 
Purple Heart Medal, and this is just one more way we can honor their 
service.
  The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President, and 
it designates those servicemembers who have been wounded in the service 
of our Nation during combat or an act of terrorism. Many recipients 
have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and it is a symbol of true 
selflessness. The brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces today 
volunteer knowing full well the hazards of their chosen profession. On 
August 7, 2009, all Americans should be encouraged to learn about the 
significance of the Purple Heart, honor those selfless citizens who 
wear the award and bear the proud scars earned in service protecting 
and defending our Nation.
  Today, there are approximately 550,000 Purple Heart recipients still 
living in the United States. I am sure that each Member of this body 
knows someone in their respective States who is a Purple Heart 
recipient, the family member of a recipient, or the friend of a 
recipient. A day of recognition is the least we can do to honor those 
who have been awarded this medal for serving our country.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any 
statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 239) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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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