Bill Text: CA ACR100 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Purple Heart Day.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-2)
Status: (Passed) 2019-08-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 132, Statutes of 2019. [ACR100 Detail]
Download: California-2019-ACR100-Chaptered.html
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 100
CHAPTER 132
Relative to Purple Heart Day.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 27, 2019.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 100, Choi.
Purple Heart Day.
This measure would declare August 7, 2019, as Purple Heart Day in California.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who are killed or wounded in action; and
WHEREAS, Created in 1932, the Purple Heart has a long and storied past that dates back to the founders of the United States. The award takes its design from the Badge of Military Merit, which was commissioned by General George Washington on August 7, 1782. This award consisted of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk having a narrow edge of silver stitched with the word Merit across the face and is considered to be the first official military combat badge of the Armed Forces. The official successor decoration of the Badge of Military Merit is the Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, Originally, the Purple Heart award was only open to the United States Army and Air Force service members and could not be awarded posthumously. President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed that in 1942 with an executive order that opened the award to members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Later that year, in a separate order, the award was made available for posthumous award to any member of the military; and
WHEREAS, To date, approximately two million Purple Heart Medals have been awarded. The award can be awarded retroactively to a soldier as far back as 1917, allowing veterans from World War I to be eligible; and
WHEREAS, Originally, the Purple Heart was awarded for meritorious service, and injury was a consideration for merit. In 1942, the creation of the Legion of Merit award duplicated the merit requirement, which became unnecessary for the Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, From 1942 to 1997, civilians serving in, or affiliated with, the Armed Forces were eligible to receive the Purple Heart. Some of the earliest civilians to receive this honor were firefighters wounded or killed while fighting fires caused by the attack on Pearl Harbor; and
WHEREAS, Since California is home to more than 1.8 million veterans and more than 200,000 active and reserve members of the Armed Forces, it is especially appropriate for all Californians to honor those who have been awarded the Purple Heart; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages all Californians to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces, especially those who have been wounded and received the Purple Heart, and declares August 7, 2019, as Purple Heart Day in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
