Watertown American Legion Post 17 Honors Purple Heart Day with Avenue of Flags Tribute
- Steve Jurrens
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Americans across the country pause each year on August 7 to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who were wounded in combat or gave their lives in service to the nation. The Purple Heart — one of the most recognized and solemn military decorations — is awarded to service members who were injured or killed as a result of enemy action, including those who died while held as prisoners of war.
The observance falls on the anniversary of the medal’s creation. On August 7, 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, the earliest predecessor of today’s Purple Heart. Only three soldiers received the original badge before it fell out of use following the Revolutionary War.
Nearly 150 years later, the modern Purple Heart was revived on February 22, 1932, the bicentennial of Washington’s birth. The updated medal recognized those wounded or killed on or after April 5, 1917 — just before the United States entered World War I. Initially limited to the Army and Army Air Corps, eligibility expanded to all branches of the military on December 3, 1942, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Purple Heart remains the oldest military award still presented to U.S. service members. Unlike other decorations, it is not recommended by commanders; it is earned automatically when a service member meets the criteria. An estimated 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded.
The medal features a purple heart-shaped design bordered in gold, bearing a profile of George Washington on the front and the inscription “For Military Merit” on the reverse. It hangs from a purple silk ribbon trimmed in silver.
Locally, members of American Legion Post 17 mark Purple Heart Day by displaying the Avenue of Flags — a tribute to fallen soldiers and a public expression of gratitude for their service to the United States.
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