The forgotten origins of America's first official military decoration

History · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In August 1782, George Washington established a new way to honor service. This video explores the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, an award that nearly vanished from the American historical record.

On August 7, 1782, the Commander in chief of the Continental Army issued a general order creating the Badge of Military Merit. This marked the birth of the first official military decoration of the United States. Despite its significance, the story of this award was nearly lost to time, becoming a piece of forgotten history.

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