A Home and a Country

The Badge of Military Merit, which would later be succeeded by the Purple Heart Medal in 1932, was created by General George Washington on August 7th, 1782. While armies in Europe had traditionally awarded medals only to officers in the military’s upper ranks, General Washington sought a way in which to honor the bravery and service of America’s common soldiers. As he wrote on that day:

“The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward. Before this favour can be conferred on any man, the particular fact, or facts, on which it is to be grounded must be set forth to the Commander in chief accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade to which the Candadate for reward belonged, or other incontestable proofs, and upon granting it, the name and regiment of the person with the action so certified are to be enrolled in the book of merit which will be kept at the orderly office. Men who have merited this last distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinals which officers are permitted to do. The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all. This order is also to have retrospect to the earliest stages of the war, and to be considered as a permanent one.”

Read more about the Merit Badge and Purple Heart here and here.

*Badge awarded to Sgt. Elijah Churchill, May 3rd, 1783 (source)

While the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, modern historians believe that most of the delegates didn’t formally affix their signatures to this famous document until almost a month later, on August 2nd, 1776. In the following selection from his 1838 “Lyceum Address”, Abraham Lincoln eloquently states how Americans can continue to honor these men who signed – and even died – for us:

“Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity swear by the blood of the Revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and laws let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor – let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children’s liberty.”