Rep. Sak offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 181.

A resolution recognizing the 225th anniversary of the Purple Heart on Tuesday, August 7, 2007.

Whereas, The Purple Heart is awarded to those wounded or killed as a result of engaging the enemy while serving in the United States military; and

Whereas, The Purple Heart was the first American award available to the common soldier; and

Whereas, General George Washington created its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, in 1782; and

Whereas, The first Purple Heart was awarded by General George Washington to three recipients on August 7, 1782.  It was a heart cut from purple cloth and edged with lace; and

Whereas, The Purple Heart fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War but was revived in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of Washington’s birth, on orders from General Douglas MacArthur; and

Whereas, Today’s medal bears the likeness of George Washington on an enameled purple heart, edged in brass and topped with Washington’s family crest and flanking leaves.  It is suspended from a purple ribbon with white borders. The back of the medal bears the inscription “For Military Merit” and repeats the Washington crest; and

Whereas, The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in the world still in use; now, therefore,be it

            Resolved By the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body  recognize the 225th anniversary of the Purple Heart on Tuesday, August 7, 2007.