7 August 1782: Washington Creates the Badge of Military Merit
On August 7, 1782, General George Washington made a decision that would forever change the way the United States honors its military personnel. At his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, Washington issued a general order establishing the Badge of Military Merit, a purple heart-shaped cloth badge to recognize enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers who demonstrated unusual gallantry in battle and extraordinary fidelity and essential service. This decoration would later evolve into what we now know as the Purple Heart, one of the most revered military awards in American history.
The Badge of Military Merit was revolutionary for its time. Unlike European military honors that were typically reserved for officers and nobility, Washington creation specifically targeted the common soldier. The badge featured a purple heart made of cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding, and was worn over the left breast. Recipients were also entitled to pass guards and sentinels without challenge, a significant privilege in the military hierarchy of the era.
Only three soldiers are documented to have received the original Badge of Military Merit during the Revolutionary War: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, Sergeant William Brown, and Sergeant Daniel Bissell. These men were recognized for their extraordinary acts of bravery and service during the conflict. Sergeant Churchill, for instance, had led two daring raids on British positions in New York, while Sergeant Bissell had spent more than a year undercover within British lines gathering intelligence.
After the Revolutionary War ended, the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse and was largely forgotten. For nearly 150 years, no further awards were made. It was not until 1932, on the bicentennial of George Washington birth, that the decoration was revived by General Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff. The redesigned medal retained its purple heart shape but was now made of metal, featuring Washington profile and his coat of arms.
The modern Purple Heart differs from Washington original concept in one significant way: it is now awarded primarily to those who are wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States, rather than for acts of bravery. This shift in criteria has made it one of the most commonly awarded military decorations, with hundreds of thousands of service members receiving the honor since World War II.
Today, August 7 is observed as Purple Heart Day in the United States, a day to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who have been wounded or killed in military service. The Purple Heart remains a powerful symbol of sacrifice and serves as a reminder of Washington original vision to recognize the contributions of ordinary soldiers who perform extraordinary acts in defense of their nation.
