| Badge of Military Merit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Badge |
| Awarded for | Military merit |
| Description | Figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | General George Washington |
| Eligibility | Non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army |
| Status | Obsolete |
| Established | August 7, 1782 |
| First awarded | May 3, 1783 |
| Last awarded | June 10, 1783 |
The Badge of Military Merit was an award for non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army. It is largely considered America's first military decoration, and the second oldest in the world (after the Cross of St. George).[a] Non commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army were eligible. Now known as the Purple Heart Medal, it was redesigned and re-commissioned in 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur in honor of George Washington’s bicentennial.[2]
- ^ Phoenix, J. (August 7, 2007). "The 225th Anniversary of the Purple Heart". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
- ^ Wescott, Allen Pennell (Autumn 1941). "For Military Merit". Military Affairs. 5 (3): 211–214. doi:10.2307/2937597. ISSN 0026-3931. JSTOR 2937597.
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