News-Info-Alerts

Re: S CON RES 40

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 09, 2003

"Designating August 7, 2003, as `National Purple Heart Recognition Day'. (Introduced in Senate)

SCON 40 IS

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. CON. RES. 40

Designating August 7, 2003, as `National Purple Heart Recognition Day'.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES


April 30, 2003

Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. HAGEL) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Designating August 7, 2003, as `National Purple Heart Recognition Day'.

Whereas the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as 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 of the United States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war , and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound received in 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, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart;

Whereas the award of the Purple Heart ceased with the end of the Revolutionary War , but was revived out of respect for the memory and military achievements of George Washington in 1932, the 200th anniversary of his birth; and

Whereas the designation of August 7, 2003, as `National Purple Heart Recognition Day' is a fitting tribute to General Washington, and to the over 1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, approximately 550,000 of whom are still living: Now, therefore, be it


Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress--



(1) designates August 7, 2003, as `National Purple Heart Recognition Day';



(2) encourages all Americans to learn about the history of the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit and to honor its recipients; and



(3) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit."