Gerard Monaghan, retired Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, will be the presenter for the Bristol Historical Society’s Third Thursday program on the history of the Purple Heart. Monaghan served in the 76th (Training) Public Affairs Office during the Purple Heart Bicentennial. He is the author of an article on the Purple Heart which appeared in Connecticut Magazine in the May 2022 issue.
The Bristol Historical Society and the Memorial Military Museum are co-sponsoring the program on Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m. There will be no admission charge, but donations are welcome.
On a separate note, the historical society and military museum are seeking help collecting the names of the Purple Heart recipients from Bristol.
Purple Heart history
Until 1782, only officers received military awards for victories in battle. In that year, President George Washington designed a badge in the form of a cloth purple heart called the Badge of Military Merit. This purple heart was the first award in military history to be given to lower-ranking, enlisted soldiers or non-commissioned officers for their outstanding service. Three men received that award during the American Revolutionary War.
For over 150 years, the Badge of Military Merit was forgotten. It wasn’t until WW I that an organized effort was made to create medals for levels of valor and merit. Also, during that war, American soldiers wounded in battle were awarded wound chevrons. They were sewn on the lower right sleeve of a uniform, one chevron per wound.
That changed in 1932, when U.S. Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur renamed the old Badge of Military Merit the Purple Heart.
Attendees to Thursday’s presentation will hear stories about some Purple Heart recipients in our country’s history. Believe it or not, some recipients were animals!
Help complete a list of Bristol’s Purple Heart recipients
Eleanor Wilson, the program chair for the historical society, and Carol Denehy, director of the Memorial Military Museum, are compiling a list of Bristol residents who received the Purple Heart.
If you know the name of a Purple Heart recipient, please call Ellie Wilson at (860) 583-6309 and leave a message with the following information: 1) person’s name, 2) when the award was bestowed and 3) what war or conflict was involved. Also please leave a return phone number if further information is needed.
The goal is to have a list compiled in time for Purple Heart Day on Aug. 7.
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