NEWS
One of General Tommy Franks’ Purple Hearts displayed on a uniform jacket amongst other military medals at the Museum in Hobart.
August 7 Commemorates Purple Heart Day Honoring All Recipients
For Immediate Release: August 2, 2021
(Hobart, Okla.) – The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against enemy forces. The Purple Heart is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war. Aug. 7 commemorates Purple Heart Day, honoring the nearly 2 million Purple Heart recipients for their sacrifice and dedication to love of country.
The Oklahoma Department of Military Order of the Purple Heart designated Kiowa County and the City of Hobart as Purple Heart localities on May 15. During Hobart’s Celebration of Freedom in May, the Veterans Spotlight held a special presentation of the Purple Heart designation and acknowledged 90 Purple Heart recipients in the City of Hobart and 205 in Kiowa County. Oklahoma became a Purple Heart state on Nov. 1, 2019 after passing Senate Bill 232 with 1,340 known recipients in the state at that time.
“We have the utmost respect and admiration for every Purple Heart recipient,” said Scott Cumm, General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum manger. “General Tommy Franks was awarded three Purple Hearts for his action during the Vietnam War and we are fortunate to have his Purple Hearts and certificates on display for visitors to see in the Museum’s Awards and Decorations room at the Museum.”
General George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army, created the “Badge for Military Merit” on Aug. 7, 1782. The decoration consisted of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk edged with a narrow binding of silver with the word ‘Merit’ stitched across the face of the silver. The badge was presented to soldiers for ‘any singularly meritorious action’ and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge. The honoree’s name and regiment were also to be inscribed into a ‘Book of Merit.’
Washington’s ‘Purple Heart’ was awarded to only three known soldiers during the Revolutionary War: Elijah Churchill, William Brown and Daniel Bissell, Jr. The ‘Book of Merit’ was lost and the decoration was largely forgotten until 1927 when General Charles P. Summerall, the U.S. Army chief of staff, sent an unsuccessful draft bill to Congress to “revive the Badge of Military Merit.” In 1931, Summerall’s successor, General Douglas MacArthur, took up the cause hoping to reinstate the medal in time for the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. On Feb. 22, 1932, Washington’s 200th birthday, the U.S. War Department announced the creation of the ‘Order of the Purple Heart.’ In addition to aspects of Washington’s original design, the new Purple Heart also displays a bust of Washington in his coat of arms.
Learn more about the Purple Heart and other U.S. military decorations and awards, including a permanent Medal of Honor display, at the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to advance the development of this world class leadership training institution and museum. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
For Immediate Release: August 2, 2021
(Hobart, Okla.) – The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against enemy forces. The Purple Heart is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war. Aug. 7 commemorates Purple Heart Day, honoring the nearly 2 million Purple Heart recipients for their sacrifice and dedication to love of country.
The Oklahoma Department of Military Order of the Purple Heart designated Kiowa County and the City of Hobart as Purple Heart localities on May 15. During Hobart’s Celebration of Freedom in May, the Veterans Spotlight held a special presentation of the Purple Heart designation and acknowledged 90 Purple Heart recipients in the City of Hobart and 205 in Kiowa County. Oklahoma became a Purple Heart state on Nov. 1, 2019 after passing Senate Bill 232 with 1,340 known recipients in the state at that time.
“We have the utmost respect and admiration for every Purple Heart recipient,” said Scott Cumm, General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum manger. “General Tommy Franks was awarded three Purple Hearts for his action during the Vietnam War and we are fortunate to have his Purple Hearts and certificates on display for visitors to see in the Museum’s Awards and Decorations room at the Museum.”
General George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army, created the “Badge for Military Merit” on Aug. 7, 1782. The decoration consisted of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk edged with a narrow binding of silver with the word ‘Merit’ stitched across the face of the silver. The badge was presented to soldiers for ‘any singularly meritorious action’ and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge. The honoree’s name and regiment were also to be inscribed into a ‘Book of Merit.’
Washington’s ‘Purple Heart’ was awarded to only three known soldiers during the Revolutionary War: Elijah Churchill, William Brown and Daniel Bissell, Jr. The ‘Book of Merit’ was lost and the decoration was largely forgotten until 1927 when General Charles P. Summerall, the U.S. Army chief of staff, sent an unsuccessful draft bill to Congress to “revive the Badge of Military Merit.” In 1931, Summerall’s successor, General Douglas MacArthur, took up the cause hoping to reinstate the medal in time for the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. On Feb. 22, 1932, Washington’s 200th birthday, the U.S. War Department announced the creation of the ‘Order of the Purple Heart.’ In addition to aspects of Washington’s original design, the new Purple Heart also displays a bust of Washington in his coat of arms.
Learn more about the Purple Heart and other U.S. military decorations and awards, including a permanent Medal of Honor display, at the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to advance the development of this world class leadership training institution and museum. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.