Purple Heart Day

in 1782 in Newburgh New York General George Washington (at the time was the commander in chief of the Continental Army) created the "Badge for Military Merit" A decoration of a purple heart shaped piece of silk edged with a narrow binding of silver with the word Merit stitched across the face in silver. The badge would be awarded to any soldier for "any singularly meritorious action" and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge. The individual presented with the award would also have their name and regiment inscribed in a "Book of Merit" 

During the revolutionary war the "Purple Heart" was awarded to only 3 known soldiers. The "Book of Merit" was lost and the decoration was largely forgotten until 1927 when the U.S. army chief of staff desired for congress to "revive the Badge of Military Merit: General Douglas MacArthur in 1931 joined the cause desiring to reinstate the medal in time for bicentennial of George Washington's birthday. On the anniversary of Washington's 200th birthday, February 22, 1932 the U.S. war department announced the creation of "Order of the Purple Heart"