BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On National Purple Heart Day, we pay tribute to the immense sacrifices of all courageous service members injured or killed in combat while defending our Nation. We reaffirm our everlasting gratitude for their unmatched heroism.
The Purple Heart, first awarded by General George Washington in 1782, is our Nation’s oldest military decoration, honoring those wounded or fallen in service. From the battlefields of our Revolution to the terrains of the War on Terror and through numerous conflicts, its recipients have shown extraordinary valor. Driven by a steadfast love for liberty and unwavering devotion to the country, Purple Heart recipients have faced severe wounds and the terrors of battle, with some making the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard our freedom. The bravery symbolized by the purple fabric on their chest is intricately woven into the fabric of our shared American history, serving as a solemn reminder of the high cost of freedom and the sacred duty of those in our Nation’s uniform.
Though we can never fully repay the recipients of this revered medal, we honor their sacrifice by ensuring America remains the world’s foremost beacon of freedom. My Administration has rapidly rebuilt our military into the most powerful and deadly fighting force globally, restoring pride in military service and achieving record recruitment numbers. Beyond the battlefield, we are supporting our veterans by enhancing the Department of Veterans Affairs, cutting bureaucratic waste, and reducing its processing backlog by over 74 percent since I resumed office. We are opening new veteran health clinics, striving to eliminate veteran homelessness, and offering financial relief to senior veterans by ending taxes on Social Security. Under my leadership, our dedication to America’s veterans is unwavering, and we will always safeguard the freedoms they secured.
As we celebrate 250 years since our country’s founding, we acknowledge that the Independence we value today was secured through the blood, sweat, and tears of those who answered the call to defend it. Today and every day, we honor our American warriors who bear the Purple Heart and whose courage has carried forward the enduring blessings of freedom. We recognize the families who share in their sacrifices. Above all, we pledge to never forget their service and to honor their enduring legacy forever.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 7, 2026, as National Purple Heart Day. I urge all Americans to observe this day by honoring the courage and sacrifice of our Purple Heart recipients and expressing gratitude to our veterans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifty-first.
DONALD J. TRUMP
