Title
To declare August 7, 2018 Purple Heart Day in Columbus, Ohio
Body
WHEREAS, On August 7, 1782 General George Washington established the Honorary Badge of Distinction/Badge of Military Merit, which would later be referred to as the Purple Heart ; and
WHEREAS, The Purple Heart was the first military distinction reserved for low-ranking soldiers. Military honors up to this point in history had been reserved for officers and nobility; and
WHEREAS, After the Revolutionary War, the Purple Heart fell into disuse until it was revived by President Herbert Hoover to honor the men and women serving in WWII; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, President Ronald Regan proclaimed the first week of August be recognized as Purple Heart Week to recognize the men and women of the United States Military, whom have received that distinction; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, Columbus will recognize the Tuskegee Airman for their distinguished service to their country. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airman hosted First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for a training flight in 1941. The First Lady’s experience was so impactful that she later became an advocate for the Airman, raising $175,000 in order to construct their training facility at Morton Field; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby declare August 7, 2018 as Purple Heart Day in the City of Columbus and expresses its gratitude to the women and men of the United States Military who have sacrificed to uphold the values and integrity of the United States of America.