Freeper Canteen ~ The Purple Heart ... 78 Years Old!! ~ 06 August 10

Serving The BEST Troops and Veterans in The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~

The Purple Heart … 78 Years Old!

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

President George W. Bush shakes hands with U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Charles Cozart of Arizona City, Ariz., Thursday, July 3, 2008, after awarding Cozart with a Purple Heart medal and citation at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Joining the ceremony, background, are his father and mother, Kevin and Sharon Cozart, and his grandparents, Arthur and Betty Cozart. White House photo by Eric Draper

The Purple Heart is an American decoration-the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first American award made available to the common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by one of the world's most famed and best-loved heroes-General George Washington. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.

General Washington is often pictured as a cold, stern soldier, a proud aristocrat. Yet we know he showed sympathy and concern for his troops, and was not too proud to pray humbly on his knees for his beloved country and for the men who served it, and him, so bravely and loyally. His keen appreciation of the importance of the common soldier in any campaign impelled him to recognize outstanding valor and merit by granting a commission or an advance in rank to deserving individuals.

In the summer of 1782 he was ordered by the Continental Congress to cease doing so-there were no funds to pay the soldiers, much less the officers!

Deprived of his usual means of reward, he must have searched for a substitute. Shortly after receiving the "stop" order from Congress, he wrote his memorable General Orders of August 7, 1782, which read in part as follows:

"The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his 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 due reward. The name and regiment of the persons so certified are to be enrolled in a Book of Merit which shall be kept in the orderly room." The order further states: "Men who have merited this distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permitted to do. The order to be retroactive to the earliest stages of the war, and to be a permanent one."

Washington ended his order with: "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all."

Link here

After 150 years of disuse, The newly rediscovered description of the Badge of Merit from Washington's General Orders provided General John J. Pershing with an inspiration for a new decoration for “lesser" acts. In 1921, as the Army Chief of Staff, Pershing began organizing the revival of Washington's Badge. His effort was continued by his successor, General Charles Pelot Summerall.

After becoming the Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur finalized the renewal of the nation's oldest military decoration in 1932, just in time for the 200th Anniversary of Washington's birth.

MacArthur named the new award the "Purple Heart," rather than the Badge of Military Merit, and changed the definition of meritorious service to include combat wounds.

On February 22, 1932, the U.S. War Department created the Purple Heart decoration in the shape of a rich purple heart bordered with gold, with a bust of Washington in the center and Washington’s coat-of-arms at the top.

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 8, 2007) - When Gen. George Washington created the Purple Heart Medal in 1872, he probably never envisioned it would be so huge. Literally.

Artist Roger Baker mowed a 1,000-foot long rendition of the medal, covering 850,000 square feet, into a field at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamtonburgh, N.Y., near the town where the first awards were presented to Revolutionary War Soldiers. Mr. Baker said his creation is a "gift of art" to the American public.

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Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Nana Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

Hope you are winning the war over your grapes.

[TASMANIANRED]

I stand corrected and humbled.

You rock.

[luvie]

Praying for the day that they are ALL home!

[Travis T. OJustice]

LMAO! Snipe hunts! good stuff.

How you doing?

The navy and CG have REAL snipes, we live down in the blges of old ships.

[TASMANIANRED]

We didn’t have a summer last year.. Coolest July on record.

This year as been dog days since June.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[ConorMacNessa]

ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM? . . .

THANK YOUR VETS . . .



. . . AND SERVING MILITARY!!!!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, onedoug.....very nice. Thank you.

[oldteen]

50 miles offshore tuna fishing

Good for you! Hope you catch a bunch!

they keep the faith.

You're absolutely right about that!

[oldteen]

Eventually, it gets everyone!

[PROCON]

Hiya Kathy!!

Yeah, still packing and such!

Not looking forward to the moves, but it is what it is!

I will be off the internet for awhile as I move into my new digs, will keep you informed!

How's the Alaskan summer treating you?!

[Travis T. OJustice]

No, I don’t rock. I’m just a regular American who did what all regular Americans should do, serve their country. I didn’t do anything heroic, but I was ready to if called upon. I just served. Like tens of thousands of our nations finest before me and after me.

I certaily don’t feel as worthy of the title of “veteran” as those who served in combat.

Our country HAS to find a better way to honor our combat veterans. I think a year in combat service should entitle one to a lifetime of benefits equal to or greater than any US House or Senate member gets! Those are our true freedom fighters, not trash like barney frank or chris dodd!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))...prayers for strength each day.

[oldteen]

Yer friend isn’t online?

[ConorMacNessa]

You're very modest, Travis - thanks very much for your service to our Nation.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[TASMANIANRED]

It certainly does.

[TASMANIANRED]

I have to stop at Wally world on the way home tonight.. Need more canning jars.

[PROCON]

Our country HAS to find a better way to honor our combat veterans. I think a year in combat service should entitle one to a lifetime of benefits equal to or greater than any US House or Senate member gets!

When I got out in '82, the Veteran benefits were phenomenal.

I was able to put myself through college and still had money left at the end of the month, thanks to the G.I. Bill.

Also bought a house, with low VA interest.

The Veteran benefits aren't as good nowadays, too bad!

U.S. Military Vets deserve the best!!

[TASMANIANRED]

Last paragraph.. Full agreement.

[Cyber Ninja]

After dark.

The Scout Master would show us how to catch a snipe.

He’d say: “Snipes are very fast, so you have to be faster.”

He’d hold a paper lunch bag right on the ground.

Then, have a Cub go over and shake a bush.

What we didn’t know, was, there were 3-4 marshmallows in the bag.

He’d yell: “Here he comes!!!”

What we couldn’t see, was he would snap his finger and thumb, making the sound of something hitting the bag.

He’d shake the bag around so it seemed there was something inside.

He’d say: “See how easy it is.”

I never caught a snipe. :(