Friends and neighbors,

Next Monday, Aug. 7, is National Purple Heart Day. This annual observance is a time to honor the brave men and women who were wounded or killed while fighting in our nation’s wars.

First introduced on Aug. 7, 1782, by General George Washington, the Purple Heart served as the Badge of Merit. This award was presented to three soldiers during the American Revolution for their acts of courage. However, it was not bestowed again until it was reintroduced as the Purple Heart in 1932. 

Since then, the armed forces present this decoration to those who were injured or killed by enemy actions on or after April 5, 1917 – the day before the United States officially entered World War I. To date, more than 1.8 million Purple Heart medals have been presented to men and women across our armed forces. 

All Purple Heart recipients deserve widespread recognition, but there are a handful of honorees who stand out as household names. This includes James Arness, the lead in the series “Gunsmoke”; James Garner, the lead in the series “Maverick;” and Charles Bronson, the lead in the film “The Dirty Dozen.” I invite you to visit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor database to learn more about some of the heroic men and women who received this honor. Please visit: www.thepurpleheart.com

We are forever grateful to our Purple Heart recipients. Thank you for your dedication to maintaining our nation’s freedoms. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten and your courage will always be honored and cherished.

Sincerely,

Bruce Anderson