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

[PROCON]

Yer friend isn’t online?

My friend lives 1/4 mile of the main road and just barely has phone service!...LOL!

If I'm gone for awhile, will you miss me?..:=)

[ConorMacNessa]

AMERICA – LAND OF THE FREE . . .

BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!!!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[oldteen]

I just served

And that you are to be commended for! I thank you :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our thanks to all our military men and women who “earned” the Purple Heart. And disdain to those who cheated.

[Cyber Ninja]

Your welcome.

[oldteen]

Are ya sure you'll be able to get service then? If not, that would be unthinkable!!

If I'm gone for awhile, will you miss me?..:=)

I think, perhaps just a wee bit ;0)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my...another canning session. You should be the only one at Wally world at the hour you get off. What are we canning this time?

[ConorMacNessa]

THE TORCH IS PASSED.

“Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage - and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

President John F. Kennedy

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Travis T. OJustice]

I’m not modest. I tout my minimal service any chance I get! I served, but I didn’t serve likemy brothers who actually FOUGHT and those who died fighting for us at home. The ones who fought deserve all the praise. I’m proud of my service, but I am far more proud of my brothers who fought for our way of life. Shine on them, please, as I know you all do. That’s why I love the canteen.

[Travis T. OJustice]

150

[oldteen]

disdain to those who cheated

Amen to that, Kathy! (I think I could name a few of them however, I'll be nice!)

[SandRat]

I’ve been staying with my Dad watching over him.

[SandRat]

No matter wht I always did.

[SandRat]

So far it’s working so keep hugging and praying.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Some of the best memories of being a kid, no doubt!

I did that, too. Summer camp, no better memories!

Good topic for Kathy! Summer camp memories!

[oldteen]

God Bless you Sand! Been there and done that, but with my Mom.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, centurion316. Thanks for sharing your experience. We thank your Dad, you, and your nephew for your service to our country, and glad you did live to wear your Purple Hearts.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

The Best Room

August 6, 2010

During a January research trip to Germany, I was dismayed to learn that we would be staying at a monastery. I pictured an austere place with no heat, cold stone floors, and hard beds. Instead, I found a warm, welcoming, comfortable room. My colleague said, “The monks believe in treating their guests as they would treat Christ.” Though they don’t live in such comfort themselves, they are content.

Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet, wrote:
Christ, He requires still, wheresoe’er He comes,
To feed, or lodge, to have the best of rooms:
Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part
Of all the house: the best of all’s the heart.

It may seem easier to welcome Christ into our heart than to open our life to others. Whether it’s a room in our home or time in our schedule, too often we treat people as intruders rather than guests.

The apostle Peter wrote: “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:8-9).

We honor Christ by giving Him the best room, our hearts, and by offering willing hospitality to others.

I am Yours, Lord, yet teach me all it means,
All it involves of love and loyalty,
Holy service, full and glad surrender,
And unreserved obedience unto Thee! —Bennett

To know love, open your heart to Jesus. To show love, open your heart to others.

Read: 1 Peter 4:7-14

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. —1 Peter 4:9

Bible in a year:
Psalms 70-71; Romans 8:22-39

[PROCON]

Hey, FRiend, What's up?!

[ConorMacNessa]

Purple Hearts in my family:

My 3 greats grandfather Cpl. William Murphy, Battery "C" 5th US Artillery - WIA at the Clump of Trees, Gettysburg, PA 3jul 1863.

My Uncle, Sgt. Joseph T. Gavin, USA, 25th Division, WWII - two Purple Hearts - Lorraine Campaign and Battle of the Bulge, 1944.

My uncle, Maj, John T. Dowd, USA, Two Purple Hearts - WWII and Korea - he rated four but never asked for them.

Me - 18Aug1969 Arizona Territory, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!