On August 7th, in 1782 - George Washington created the Order of
the Purple Heart. The original is shown at right below, a simple merit badge.
Originally it was designated as a Badge of Military Merit,
and awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers, by the commander in chief of
the Continental Army. Given out to those wounded or killed (posthumously), its
legend grew, but although never abolished, the badge was not officially
proposed until after the first World War. In WWI, over 320,000 were given out;
over a million in WWII, and in the recent Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, about
40,000.
Why purple? Perhaps because the color, in ancient times,
worn by Roman Emperors and officials, later by Catholic bishops. The color is
always associated with royalty and piety.
By the way, going way, way back,
in about 1500 BC, the color of purple was developed in ancient Phoenician city
of Tyre, in present day Lebanon. Developed from a sea snail called the spiny
dye-murex, that lived in the shell at left. The process of gathering and utilizing the materials was long,
difficult and expensive. The color became known as Tyrian purple, or imperial
purple.
By the way, going way, way back,
in about 1500 BC, the color of purple was developed in ancient Phoenician city
of Tyre, in present day Lebanon. Developed from a sea snail called the spiny
dye-murex, that lived in the shell at left. The process of gathering and utilizing the materials was long,
difficult and expensive. The color became known as Tyrian purple, or imperial
purple.
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