The oldest American military award was once a simple piece of purple cloth

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was a bronze medal featuring George Washington, the Purple Heart began as the Badge of Military Merit. Established by Washington himself in 1782, this prestigious decoration has evolved from a fabric token into a symbol of sacrifice for those wounded in combat.

The lineage of the Purple Heart traces back to August 7, 1782, when George Washington, acting as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, established the Badge of Military Merit from his headquarters in Newburgh, New York. In its original form, the award was much simpler than the modern medal, consisting of a heart crafted from purple cloth. While Washington authorized subordinate officers to distribute these badges, the original iteration was extremely rare, with only three Revolutionary War soldiers receiving it from the General himself.

The decoration lay dormant for decades until a revival effort began in the early 20th century. Following a failed attempt to reinstate the badge in 1927, General Douglas MacArthur reopened the design process in 1931. Army heraldic specialist Elizabeth Will created the modern design, which features a profile of Washington. The revived award was officially established by War Department General Order No. 3 on February 22, 1932, coinciding with the bicentennial of Washington's birth.

Unlike many military honors, the Purple Heart is not a recommendation-based award; rather, service members are entitled to it if they meet specific criteria. While the criteria have shifted—such as the 1962 expansion under President Kennedy to include those serving with friendly foreign forces—the core requirement remains a wound or death resulting from hostile action. Interestingly, the award's scope has also narrowed; while non-military personnel like the journalist Ernie Pyle once qualified, legislation passed in 1997 prohibited future awards to civilians.

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