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EXETER –
On Wednesday, August 8, the American Independence Museum
celebrated the anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit, also known as the
“Purple Heart” by offering free tours to all active and retired military
personnel.
General George Washington issued an order on August 7, 1782
to acknowledge the meritorious actions of enlisted men. The badge was to be “the figure of a
heart in purple cloth or silk…to be worn on the left breast.” Three men were known to have received
the honor at that time, but there is no surviving written record of others who
were honored with the badge.
The museum displayed two Purple Hearts that are in their
collection, along with other medals and military ephemera. One of the badges is of faded purple
cloth and was acquired by Society of the Cincinnati member William Willey from
a barn in Deerfield, NH in the 1920s; the name of the recipient is not
known. The piece was recently conserved
by Deborah Bede, and its age was authenticated by textile expert Jane Nylander.
The badge and piece of wool uniform to which it is sewn were then placed in a
new display case. The World War II medal on display belonged to J. Phillip
Webber and was donated by his widow, Mrs. Alice Webber.
All active and retired military personnel were invited to
take a free tour.
A Purple Heart craft activity was available for
children. For more information or
directions, please visit www.independencemuseum.org
or call 603-772-2622.
The American Independence Museum is a not-for-profit
organization in Exeter, New Hampshire with a mission to connect America’s
Revolutionary past with the present through its tours, programs, and special
events. The museum is also
participating in the National Endowment for the Arts Blue Star Museums program,
which offers free tours to active military personnel until Labor Day. Over 1,800 museums across the country
are involved in this annual summer program. For more information, visit
http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums.
