On August 7, 1782 George Washington issued orders for the giving of a Badge of Military Merit to be given only to enlisted men for any singularly meritorious action. History has recorded the Badge being given to only three men, all from Connecticut; Sergeants Elijah Churchill, William Brown, and Daniel Bissell, Jr. This was the first decoration ever to honor soldiers in lower ranks. On February 22, 1932 the (200th anniversary of George Washington's birth), the War Department issued General Order # 3 authorizing The Purple Heart medal for recognition of those killed and wounded in combat. From that patriotic beginning to today 225 years later The Purple Heart is the only military medal never "won" or "earned"; it is simply received for the meritorious act of having given blood for our country.
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