SCR 159, as introduced, Morrell. Purple Heart Day.
This measure would declare August 7, 2016, as Purple Heart Day in California.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the
2Armed Forces who are killed or wounded in action; and
3WHEREAS, Created in 1932, the Purple Heart has a long storied
4past that dates back to the founding fathers of the United States.
5The award takes its design from the Badge of Military Merit, which
6was commissioned by General George Washington on August 7,
71782. This award consisted of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk
8having a narrow edge of silver stitched with the word Merit across
9the face and is considered to be the first official military combat
10badge of the Armed Forces. The official successor decoration of
11the Badge of Military Merit is the Purple Heart; and
12WHEREAS, Originally, the award was only open to the United
13States Army and Air Force service members and could not be
14awarded posthumously. President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed
15that in 1942 with an executive order that opened the award to
16members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast
17Guard. Later that year, in a separate order, the award was made
P2 1available for posthumous award to any member of the military;
2and
3WHEREAS, To date, approximately two million Purple Heart
4Medals have been awarded. The award can be awarded
5retroactively to a soldier as far back as 1917, allowing veterans
6from World War I to be eligible; and
7WHEREAS, Originally, the Purple Heart was awarded for
8meritorious service, and injury was a consideration for merit. In
91942, the creation of the Legion of Merit award duplicated the
10merit requirement, which became unnecessary for the Purple Heart;
11and
12WHEREAS, From 1942 to 1997, civilians serving in, or
13affiliated with, the Armed Forces were eligible to receive the Purple
14Heart. Some of the earliest civilians to receive this honor were
15firefighters wounded or killed while fighting fires caused by the
16attack on Pearl Harbor; now, therefore, be it
17Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
18thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages all Californians
19to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces, especially
20those who have been wounded and received the Purple Heart, and
21declares August 7, 2016, as Purple Heart Day in California; and
22be it further
23Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
24this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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