“The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all.” George Washington
Today in 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit. It honored enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers for acts of uncommon bravery. It fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War. In 1941 is was revived as the Purple Heart, used to honor those soldiers killed or wounded in battle.
It is estimated that over 2 million awards have been earned since the medal was adopted in 1941. This includes servicemembers who previously were awarded alternate recognition for wounds received dating back to the Civil War.