Evening star., 1932-02-22
HONOR MEDALS. FIRST. GIVEN
BY WASHINGTON, REINSTITUTED
Hoover Orders Army Chiefs
to Revive Order of
Purple Heart.
Wounds and Acts of Merit to
Win Recognition Envis-
ioned in 1882.
copy Of this book

BY direction of President Hoover, the
War Department today reinstituted the
ancient Order of the Purple Heart,
established by Gen. George Washington
at Newburgh. N. Y. August I, 1882,
during the War Of the Revolution.
The 200th anniversary of Gen. Wash
ington's birth was selected as the most
appropriate occasion f-r the revival Of
the Purple Heart decoration. the first
honor badge in the history of the
United States Army provided for the
enlisted man and the non-co minis
stoned officer
Under the liberal ruling of the War
Department thousands Of soldiers and
ex-soldiers will become eligible for this
honor. which has been awarded in the
past to only three men for meritcrious
acts and service. These men were
Sergt Daniel Bissell of the I'd Connecti-
cut Regiment of the Continental Line,
Sergt Daniel Brown of the 5th Con-
necticut Regiment and Sergt. Elijah
Churchill of the End Continental
Dragons, which also was Connecticut
regiment.
Wounded to Get Award.
Under changes in Army regulations,
award of the Purple Heart is author
lied to persons who while serving in
the Army of the United States perform
any singularly meritorious act of
extraordinary fidelity or essential serv-
ice" Wounds received in action are
included in this category. 1t must be
awarded within three years CT the per-
formance Of the act and is not to be
awarded posthumous!y.
For service prior to February %
tbo NJ nil he Ier
to men who earned the meritorious
service citation certificate during the
World War and to those who also are
authorized to wear wound chevrons
The revived decoration consists of a
heart-shaped medal. its face gold bor-
dered and its center of purple enamel
On the diverse is relief bust of
George Washington in the uniform OF
general of the Continental Army
It's reverse is gold with the inscription
For Military Merit" The Washington
coat of arms is incorporated in the
ring which attaches it to a purple rib
bon. bordered with white.
General Orders No. 3. under which
Washington established the Purple
Heart, lead as follows:
Recognition FOR All.
The general. ever desirous to cherish
virtuous ambition in his soldiers. as
well as to foster and encourage every
species Of military merit. directs that
whenever any singularly meritorious ac-
tion is performed the author of 1t shall
be permitted to wear on his facings
over the left breast, the figure of a
heart in purple cloth or silk. edged
with narrow lace or binding. Not only
instances of unusual gallantry. but also
Of extraordinary fidelity and essential
service in any way shall meet with a
due reward. Before this favor can be
conferred on any man. the particular
fact. or facts, on which it Is to be
grounded must be set forth to the
Commander in Chief, accompanied with
certificates from the commanding Off
GERS of the regiment and brigade to
which the candidate for reward be-
longed, or other incontestable proofs
and upon granting it, the name and
regiment of the person with the action
50 certified are to be enrolled in the
Book of Merit. which will be kept at
the orderly office. Men who have
merited this last distinction to be suf-
fered to pass all guards and sentinels
which officers are permitted to do.
The road to glory in a patriot army
and free country is thus open to all
this order is also to have retrospect to
the earliest stages of the war and to be
considered as permanent one"