To receive the award, one must be injured by the enemy in battle meeting certain criteria. For example, wounds from bullets, shrapnel, projectiles, landmines, as well as chemical and biological weapons, and more. But, injuries like trench foot or frostbite, which are indirectly caused by the enemy, do not satisfy the requirements for the award. Since 1997, the Purple Heart Award is only awarded to men and women in uniform; civilians who meet the criteria but are not in the military receive the Defense of Freedom Medal. The award comes upon recommendation from the person’s chain of command and is then reviewed to ensure wounds were sustained from enemies in battle.

As of June 5, 2010 there have been 1,910,162 recipients of the award. The Vietnam War has the most receivers of the award at 351,794. The Iraq War tallied up 35,321. The award is recorded in written and electronic form. Recipients receive a plaque as well as the medal itself, which is shaped in a heart with George Washington’s head in the medal. It hangs from a purple strap and on the reverse side, engraved in the metal says, “For Military Merit”.

After World War I, there was a movement to reinstate the Badge of Military Merit, and, after years of study, the new Purple Heart Medal was authorized by the War Department in 1932. The medal was granted to soldiers wounded in battle during World War I to supplement the various wartime citations already earned under then-current regulations.

The Purple Heart Medal is one of the most attractive medals awarded by the US Military, and its design harkens back to its origins under General Washington. A purple ribbon with white borders suspends the medal itself. The medal is gold heart containing a purple cameo that features the profile of George Washington facing the center of the wearer’s body. Where the ribbon meets the medal is George Washington’s personal coat of arms, three red stars over two red bars on a shield of white. The reverse side of the medal also has the coat of arms, along with a spray of leaves, and the words, “For military merit.”

Recipients of the Purple Heart Medal include Audie Murphy, President John F. Kennedy, Senator John McCain, General Colin Powell, writer Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and director Oliver Stone, and many other former soldiers.

Purple Heart donations can be made to a number of organizations in a number of ways, and where you make a donation isn’t nearly as important as simply making one. The leading organization accepting Purple Heart donations is the Purple Heart Foundation. This group was founded in 1957 with one clear goal in mind, to help American veterans by collection Purple Heart donations. Regardless of the group a donation is made to, the goal is the same.

The goal of almost every Purple Heart donation group is to raise funds to help provide service, welfare, and rehabilitation work in connection with the members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. These services are not only offered to those who are eligible for membership therein, but also to any wounded, disabled and/or handicapped veteran, his widow, orphan or survivors.

Making a donation doesn’t have to be a monumental gesture; even the tiniest of donations can go a long way. Examples of common donations include:

- Cash
- Clothing
- Vehicles

Many organizations collect donations in the simplest form, cash. Monetary donations to Purple Heart organizations can be made in cash or through credit card transactions. Individuals can make single payments or recurring payments. Clothing donations can be made at locations around the country, and will go to help cloth veterans and their families. Vehicle donations can also be made. The Purple Heart Foundation alone has had over 500,000 vehicles donated to them to help provide for veterans.

Purple Heart donations are a great way to send an extra thank you to veterans who have honorably served their country.

Purple Heart recipients receive their award as a result of being injured by   enemy action while performing military service. The Purple Heart is one of   the highest military awards given to military service members. It is also one   of the oldest awarded medals in the U.S. military’s history.

The Purple Heart was first awarded during the American Revolutionary War by   General George Washington as the Badge Of Military Merit. It was awarded for   exemplary actions and injuries that were sustained in the line of duty. The   Badge Of Military Merit was first established by General Washington at his   headquarters in Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782. It was awarded to only   three soldiers directly by George Washington himself, according to his   writings and official historical records. However, the service records of   many other Revolutionary War soldiers indicate that the award was made to   many who had provided faithful service to the nation. The Badge Of Military   Merit was a purple felt heart with the word merit inscribed on it surrounded   by olive branches. It could be said that those Revolutionary War soldiers,   who received this award, were the very first Purple Heart recipients.

Today, the National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor seeks to remember all of our   veterans, who were awarded the Purple Heart, through its programs, exhibits,   and Roll Of Honor. This organization is located in Vails Gate, New York. It   is charged with commemorating the extraordinary sacrifices of America’s   servicemen and servicewomen, who were injured or died as a result of combat.

In addition to the National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor, Congress has   nationally chartered The Military Order Of The Purple Heart as a veterans’   organization to honor Purple Heart recipients. Its job is to assist them in   getting medical help, educational benefits, and in any matter dealing with   the Veterans Administration. Together these organizations assist our veterans   who have been awarded the Purple Heart.

Generally speaking the number and type of Purple Heart benefits fall into   two broad categories. There are federal government and state benefits   available to veterans around the country. Federal benefits are available to   any Purple Heart recipient regardless of where they live. State benefits on   the other hand are available only to Purple Heart recipients residing within   a specific state.

Perhaps the most important Purple Heart benefits available are recently   enacted Veterans Affairs (VA) medical benefits. Changes made to VA services   in 2000 saw Purple Heart recipients moved into a higher priority service   category. Purple Heart recipients used to fall anywhere from group four to   group seven in the priority list, but now fall into group three. Purple Heart   recipients now receive faster medical care and make no co-payments on   inpatient and outpatient VA services.

Other Purple Heart benefits are available to veterans through state   governments. These benefits vary from state to state and generally fall into   the following categories:

- Housing
- Employment
- Education
- Other

These benefits are designed to provide veterans with a number of extra   services and help in the state they reside in. Benefits range from important   extras such as veteran specific loans for purchasing homes and land, to nice   extras such as free services from certain state departments. The following   are a few examples:

- Tuition and fees-deferred payments (education in Arizona)
- Property Tax exemptions (housing in Connecticut)
- Free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses (extra benefits in   Mississippi)

There are a wide variety of Purple Heart benefits available around the   country. While they may not make up for the scars left behind by war, they   are one way a grateful public shows its appreciation to those who defend   their freedom.

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By collecting documentary evidence and oral histories, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor keeps the stories of Purple Heart recipients alive in the memories of those for whom they received their wounds. It is a destination for people interested in learning more about the Purple Heart and its impact on the lives of service members, both how they earned the distinction, and how it affected them afterwards. Besides this national Purple Heart memorial, there are local memorials that inculcate the same reverence and respect for recipients.

The Montana Purple Heart Memorial is located on the Courthouse Lawn in Billings, MT. A semi-circle of black granite slabs are arranged around the Veteran’s Memorial Garden. The center slab depicts an oversized Purple Heart medal with the words, “IN HONOR OF OUR COMBAT WOUNDED VETERANS.” The surrounding panels list Montana residents who have received the Purple Heart, arranged by the war in which they earned their distinction. It is a fitting tribute, and it is updated regularly to add the names of recipients as they become known. There are panels dedicated to the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many states are home to a Purple Heart memorial. Veterans’ organizations will be able to tell interested people where they are in their state.

Some Purple Hearts were awarded on the spot during combat operations in past wars. This led to some service members not having the appropriate entries made in their records. Possession of a Purple Heart certificate is proof that records need correction. The Purple Heart certificate is a handsome document that is framed in a place of honor by many recipients.

Printed on cream-colored, heavy parchment, the Purple Heart Certificate features a raised depiction of the medal. Billowing white-bordered, purple ribbon frames the medal, which is a gold-bordered purple heart bearing the likeness of General George Washington. Washington’s personal coat of arms rests at the apex of the heart, a white shield with two red bars and three red stars. The certificate states to all who bear witness to it, that the President of the United States of America has awarded the Purple Heart, established by General George Washington at Newburgh, NY, August 7, 1782 to the recipient for wounds received in action. The certificate not only names the recipient, but also the location of where the wound was received and the date. The date of the award is denoted and the document is signed by the prescribing authority and the Secretary of the Branch of Service to which the service member belongs.

Owning a Purple Heart, and its certificate, is a point of pride for service members.