I
have a new interest in Presidents’ Day. Although, this holiday honors, “the
Father of this Country,” George Washington and other presidents like Abraham
Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, I found a linkage of this holiday with
the awarding of the “Purple Heart Medal” to men and women who suffered wounds
or died during combat. This medal originated by General George Washington, and
it became the most recognized and respected medals of the U.S. Armed Forces. As noted in “Celebrating America’s Freedoms”
published by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/purple-heart.pdf,
the Purple Heart regain its significance under General Douglas MacArthur who reestablished
the Purple Heart award in General Order No. 3: 
On
February 22, 1932 -- the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth -- the
War Department (predecessor to the Department of Defense) announced the
establishment of the Purple Heart award in General Order No. 3: By order of the
President of the United States, the Purple Heart established by General George
Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the War of the Revolution, is
hereby revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements
The Purple Heart represents a
symbol of bravery of which more than 1.8 million persons have received such an
honor. As you read the account of bravery performed by Purple Heart recipients,
you will see ordinary persons acting selfishly to save the life of another person or
persons. When you display bravery, a person refrains from an egotistical
behavior to acts of modesty leading to courageous performance. In other words,
bravery moves you to focus on others while negating selfish motives. Therefore,
TRiO participants must establish within themselves that their life consists of
more than just pleasing self. TRiO participants must develop the mental
fortitude to continue their educational pursuit despite life challenges. They must
realize their pursuit of a college Tassel will give others the
assurance of possibilities. So think about these Purple Heart recipients the
next time you get that “Don’t Care”
attitude and find that bravery determination to assure others of the possibilities toward graduating from college.
Therefore, I encourage you to click the link and find
a Purple Heart recipient and read his/her bravery during President Day. https://www.thepurpleheart.com/roll-of-honor
