Every year on August 7, America honors its service members on Purple Heart Day. The Purple Heart is awarded to those who are injured or killed while serving in combat.

It’s an American military honor that was started by Gen. George Washington (the first president of the United States) during the Revolutionary War. It is also the oldest military decoration.

Since its creation, an estimated 1.9 million Purple Hearts have been awarded, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Washington creates the Purple Heart

During the Revolutionary War, Washington was the commander in chief of the Continental Army. To honor his soldiers, he created the Badge of Military Merit (which was later renamed the Purple Heart).

Washington created it on August 7, 1782. It was announced in his Orders of the Day (per the National Archives):

“The General ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military Merit, directs that whenever any singularly........

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