Haddonfield’s Indian King Tavern Museum distributed Badge of Merit take-and-make kits on Aug. 7 in honor of National Purple Heart Day.
The distribution was part of the museum’s theme for the year of creating programming related to George Washington in honor of America’s 250th anniversary this year.
“The Purple Heart dates back to something called the Badge of Military Merit, which was an honor invented by George Washington in 1782 during the American Revolution,” explained Michelle Hughes, a resource interpretive specialist at the museum.
The Purple Heart medal goes to service members who are wounded or killed and features a silhouette of Washington.
Hughes noted that the first Badge of Military Merit was given to Sgt. Elijah Churchill (1755-1841), a carpenter from Enfield, Connecticut, to recognize two raids against British-held forts. Hughes served with the 2nd Continental Troop of Light Dragoons.
The badge was also given to Sgt. William Brown (1759-1808) of Stamford, Connecticut, “who led what was considered a suicide mission that resulted in the capture of a strategic British fortification during the Battle of Yorktown and who served with the Fifth Connecticut Regiment. Another badge went to Sgt. Daniel Bissell (1754-1824), a Continental Army spy who joined the British as a quartermaster in its infrantry to glean information for Gen. Washington.
Six additional badges were awarded to Peter Shumway, John Sithins, William Dutton and three unknown soldiers in Washington’s Continental Army.
“It just seems like after the American Revolution, it isn’t awarded for a long time,” Hughes noted of the badge . “Obviously in military circles it was still known, which is why (it was) sort of reconstituted as the Purple Heart … It just kind of went into obscurity in between the two.”
It was Gen. Douglas MacArthur who ordered the Military Badge of Merit to be reconfigured in 1932 as the Purple Heart.
The museum chose to honor that history by giving away kits throughout National Purple Heart Day. Kids created their own “badges” by embroidering the word merit on purple felt hearts, and included notes explaining the day’s history.
Other programs this year have included a concert featuring Revolutionary-era music, an actress who portrayed one of Washington’s runaway slaves, “tea” with Martha Washington and a celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
To stay up to date with the Indian King Tavern Museum’s programs, visit https://indiankingfriends.org/
