Did you know that General George Washington conceived of and designed the Purple Heart? He did so in response to the Continental Congress forbidding him to reward soldiers with promotions. Washington was a visionary, that is indisputable. In honor of Memorial Day I have decided to share an excerpt of my novel-in-progress where I have imagined the afternoon in August 1782 when this happened.
He had seen countless men in the most
horrific conditions and lowest standard of living, willingly follow his orders,
even when the orders had appeared to be a death warrant, - because he
asked them to. To walk miles daily leaving bloody footprints in the snow - because he asked them to. To carry on day after day without pay, medicine, and more
often than not, nothing more than tree bark to eat - because he asked them to.
And he had seen colored soldiers and Native Indians and women and even children
do this, sometimes exemplifying themselves as soldiers and patriots of the
greatest merit.
And he had seen over his entire life
enslaved men and women avoid hard work and sacrifice, showing no interest and
what appeared to be no understanding of their reward for doing so, until it
became undeniably apparent that a ration of food and shelter, was not reward
enough for the human spirit. That of the three; life was the least important to
mankind. If liberty and the pursuit of happiness were not also at least distant
possibilities, few men would exert themselves at all, and fewer still would
exemplify themselves for distinction.
As always when fatigued and weary George
thought of Martha, far away on his beautiful farm. He pictured her by the fire
silently sewing, using her needle to do good, and he came up with an idea. He
lifted his quill and ordered that a new way of recognizing the men would be
employed. He was going to recognize
every soldier to start, with a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of every
man that had served for three years with bravery, fidelity and good conduct.
After six years another chevron would be awarded. It was a somewhat radical
idea and he knew eyebrows would rise and tongues would wag. It made rank
irrelevant, shifting the traditional focus from the officer to the common soldier.
It would be, distinctly, American.
Further he ordered that a new badge of
military merit be designed. It would be sewn of heart shaped purple and gold silk
with a narrow lace-worked edging, the word Merit
stitched in silver thread was to be surrounded by an entwining laurel on
both sides, and he stated his intention as clearly as possible explaining in his order that he was "ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to
foster and encourage every species of military merit", and that whenever any
singularly meritorious action is performed the badge was to be awarded, and
worn on the left breast of the uniform, allowing the bearer to pass all guards
and sentinels without question. He declared to the world, "The road to glory in a patriot army and a
free country is thus open to all."
With
ceremonial pomp previously only afforded to officers Washington himself
presented the Purple Heart award to three young soldiers from Connecticut as
soon as he could.
All rights reserved: (c) Tammi J Truax, 2014.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
