Badge of Military Merit
| 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 award | May 3, 1783 |
| Final award | June 10, 1783 |
The Badge of Military Merit was an award for non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army. It is considered America's first military decoration, and the second oldest in the world (after the Cross of St. George). Non commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army were eligible. Renamed as the Purple Heart, it was ordered redesigned in 1931, and was re-commissioned in 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur in honor of George Washington’s bicentennial.