Washington, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded the Inspirational Leadership Award by Jim Randles, National Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). Also present for the award ceremony was Richard Weeks, New York State Commander, MOPH, who is from Albany, New York. One Member of Congress is chosen for this award each year. Senator Clinton is the first woman to receive this honor.

“I am honored to receive the Inspirational Leadership Award from the Military Order of the Purple Heart,” Senator Clinton said. “The Purple Heart medal symbolizes service and sacrifice to our nation. I consider it a privilege and duty to work on behalf of combat wounded active duty servicemembers and veterans and I will continue to make them one of my top priorities. It has been an honor to join with the Military Order of the Purple Heart to support the reissuance of the Purple Heart Stamp and to raise awareness of August 7 as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.”

The MOPH issued the following statement: “In recognition of her inspirational leadership and dedicated service to America’s military service members and America’s veterans. Senator Clinton was an early advocate and co-sponsor of legislation to provide guaranteed funding for the VA health care administration. Each year Senator Clinton has introduced legislation that recognizes August 7th as Purple Heart recognition day and encourages citizens to learn of the history and importance of America’s oldest military award. In 2002 Senator Clinton petitioned the US postal service to issue a stamp honoring the Purple Heart medal, and, working closely with the military order of the Purple Heart, accomplished this goal. When the stamp was to be discontinued in 2006 due to an increase in the cost of stamps, Senator Clinton again joined with the MOPH in the quest to have the stamp reissued. Once again she and MOPH were successful in reaching this goal. Senator Clinton’s actions on behalf of America’s military and veterans reflect the highest level of dedication to America and its citizens. She reflects all that is good about government service and is a credit to New York, America and the congress of the United States.”

Senator Clinton has been an unwavering champion in the fight to recognize the heroism of those who have received the Purple Heart. Senator Clinton cosponsored legislation (S. Con. Res. 56) during the 107th Congress expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued to honor members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Senator Clinton wrote to the U.S. Postmaster General urging support for a commemorative stamp to pay tribute to the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit. And in May 2003, Senator Clinton attended the ceremony to launch the first issue of the Purple Heart Stamp in Newburgh, NY. The Senate also has approved legislation, sponsored by Senator Clinton and Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), supporting a “National Purple Heart Recognition Day” and honoring all soldiers who were severely injured while serving their country and who were awarded a Purple Heart.

The Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as the Purple Heart, is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound received in conflict with an enemy force. There are over 1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, approximately 550,000 of whom are still living.

The Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart.

A webcast of this event is available at: http://www.clinton.senate.gov/audio/021506_clinton_award.rm

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