 VA Insider -- August 7 is Purple Heart Day, set aside to honor the men and women who have been wounded or killed in the line of duty.
The date isn’t arbitrary. On August 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit: a purple, heart-shaped cloth badge recognizing what he called singularly meritorious action among enlisted soldiers. It was one of the only military decorations available to enlisted personnel, a departure from European traditions of the era.
The oldest medal still in use
That 1782 badge is why the Purple Heart holds the distinction of being the oldest military recognition still given to U.S. service members today. After the Revolutionary War, though, the Badge of Military Merit fell out of use and was largely forgotten for nearly 150 years.
It wasn’t revived until 1932, Washington’s 200th birthday. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur spearheaded the effort to reestablish the award, and the War Department reissued it as the Purple Heart we know today.
How it’s earned
A Purple Heart is awarded to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has been wounded or killed:
- As a result of an act of any opposing or enemy force
- As a result of an international terrorist attack
- While serving with friendly forces in an armed conflict where the U.S. is not a belligerent party
- As a result of “friendly fire” while actively engaging the enemy
Unlike many military honors, the Purple Heart isn’t awarded for valor; it’s awarded for sacrifice. It doesn’t require an act of heroism, only that the wound was sustained in the line of duty as a direct result of hostile action. When the wound proves fatal, the medal is awarded posthumously to the service member’s next of kin.
The first to receive it
When Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782, only three soldiers are known to have received it during his lifetime:
- Sgt. Elijah Churchill of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons was honored for his leadership in daring raids on British-held Fort St. George and Fort Slongo on Long Island, operations that required navigating deep into enemy territory.
- Sgt. William Brown of the 5th Connecticut Regiment was recognized for his bravery during the Battle of Yorktown where he took part in a bayonet assault on a fortified British stronghold.
- Sgt. Daniel Bissell of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment earned his honor for espionage. He infiltrated British lines under a false identity for more than a year to gather intelligence for the Continental Army.
When the award was revived in 1932, MacArthur — the man who championed its return — became the first person to receive the modern Purple Heart, based on wounds he’d sustained decades earlier in World War I.
Future senators
The Purple Heart was somewhat of a bond for three future senators who served in World War II. Bob Dole and Daniel Inouye were both wounded in Italy during the war and ended up recovering side by side at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. They forged a friendship with a third wounded soldier, Philip Hart. All three went on to serve together decades later in the U.S. Senate.
 A recent recipient
Lewis Robinson just received a Purple Heart for his service on July 28. It was recently received but earned 55 years ago in Vietnam.
An equipment loader in the 27th Engineer Battalion, Robinson’s convoy was struck by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Robinson’s arms were wounded by shrapnel, and one of his eardrums was ruptured.
His captain offered the Purple Heart to Robinson, but he turned it down, thinking his injuries weren’t severe enough to warrant it. He felt different once he returned home and spent 50 years attempting to receive it, with help from VA and his congressional representative.
Brig. Gen. Bob Felderman attended the long-awaited Purple Heart ceremony held for Robinson. He called it a lasting acknowledgement that Veterans’ wounds and sacrifices mattered.
“It asks the military to remember the human cost of every mission,” he said.
More than 75 Veterans and their spouses attended the annual Gerofit luncheon on campus Friday. Director Jennifer DeFrancesco helped to serve the barbecue meal. Gerofit is an exercise program for Veterans 65 and older. It’s a way to stay active by using a variety of strength and aerobic exercises. Classes are offered in person or virtually. Veterans interested in joining should get a consult from their provider.
The Dayton VA Women’s Program is hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, August 26th at 6pm. It’s a public forum about services Dayton VA offers women Veterans. Join the event on our Facebook page Dayton VA Medical Center.
Military Retiree Appreciation will be Friday, August 28th at 8 A.M - 2:30 P.M.
Held at Wright-Patt Community Center. See flyer for more details.
Overdose Awareness Day is Monday, August 31, 2026. The Dayton VA is observing this important day with a resource table in the lobby of building 330 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Staff will provide information to Veterans about treatment and how recovery is possible.
The Legal Clinic for Veterans is starting back up now that the college school year is starting back up. It will be on Monday, September 14th.
Save the date for Thursday, September 24th for an event on campus for Suicide Prevention Month. See flyer for more details.
VA Police are now locking the North Liscum and Gettysburg vehicle gates at 8:00 p.m. every day, and unlocking them at 5:00 a.m. The South Liscum gate (close to 35) will remain open 24/7. This is strengthening physical security on our campus due to some recent activity in the area.
The annual Stand Down will be held Friday, October 2nd at 10:00 a.m. in the theater and multipurpose room of building 305. See flyer for details.
For 20 years, VA’s MOVE! weight management program has supported more than 1.3 million Veterans in achieving their health goals
 ***Click here for more information on the program: https://www.move.va.gov/ Veterans interested in the program can call (937)268-6511 extension 1699
The Farmers Market is every Thursday through October 15th from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the picnic pavilion. The Farmers Market is open to the public.
Veterans are encouraged to use Direct Deposit to get payments faster and safer.
 Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay didn’t want to be a radio operator. In fact, up until he graduated from boot camp, he thought he was going to become an aerial gunner for the Marine Corps during World War II.
***Click to read story: https://vaww.insider.va.gov/freedom250-honoring-thomas-begay/
**VA is celebrating some of the Veterans who served so we may enjoy freedom. They’re the reason the country made it to 250 years. See all their profiles on the Freedom 250 web page.
We are more than two months in with the new Electronic Health Record (EHR). We are still going through some growing pains, including with delays in answering phone calls. We appreciate your patience as we continue this transition. These changes are designed to improve coordination and continuity of care for Veterans. If you get your healthcare here, thank you for trusting Dayton VA with your health care.
A free monthly fitness program at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
See flyer below for more details.
The Women Overcoming & Winning (W.O.W.) social group meets the first Monday of each month. The next meeting will be, September 14th, from 6:00-7:30pm in building 305. Women Veterans are encouraged to attend.
A free monthly program is live every Tuesday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM.
See flyer below for more details.
The next Coffee Club meeting will be on Tuesday, September 8th. Dayton VA Medical Center Outreach Team will be in attendance. See information below.
Show your support for Veterans in their fight against suicide on Saturday,
September 5th at the Springfield Silent Watch.
 Less scroll, more soul. Taking time away from screens can help you reconnect with what matters most: your health, your relationships, and your daily life. Spirit and soul are an important part of your well-being. What helps you reconnect?
***Click here for more information: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/spirit-soul.asp
 Dayton VA Veterans, staff and retirees have free access to more than 100 live, online Ompractice classes weekly, an on-demand video library & new programming every month.
**Click here for video library: https://app.ompractice.com/videos
Register with Ompractice for free: https://app.ompractice.com/veteransaffairs
Veterans, if you can't make your appointment, call and cancel so another Veteran can take it.
The Coffee Hour and 12 Step Meetings are offered by Mental Health to all Veterans in recovery, even if not engaged with Mental Health.
Open to active duty, Veterans, National Guard, Reservist and widowed families. Thursdays 10am - 2pm and Mondays 6pm - 8pm.
See details below.
 Getting back to basics is easy—choose whole foods, drink water, and plan your meals and snacks. Learn more about meal timing and meet with your VA dietitian to learn more.
***Click here: https://www.nutrition.va.gov/NUTRITION/docs/UpdatedPatientEd/MealTimingForSuccess_2022.pdf
The Dayton VAMC now has a Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) with Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO). They will be offering civil legal services for all Veterans that qualify. They will be on site every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 2pm in Building 409, first floor, Homeless Program. Walk-ins are welcome or they can reach out directly to LAWO by phone at (888) 534-1432 or online at www.legalaidline.org.
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