Honoring Purple Hearts

“The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by George Washington – then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army – by order from his Newburgh, New York, headquarters on 7 August 1782. The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers by Washington himself.

“Washington authorized his subordinate officers to issue Badges of Merit as appropriate. Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until after World War I.” – Wikipedia

Yesterday, Aug. 7, 2024, Mayor Joshia García and Jorge Santiago, director of the city’s Veterans Services, were joined by a few veterans to honor soldiers wounded or killed in action and who received a Purple Heart.