Morris County’s Purple Heart Heroes
County of Morris
In the final days of the American Revolution, on Aug. 7, 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit to, as his general orders stated, “cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers.” It was the birth of what we now call the Purple Heart, presented to military personnel wounded in the line of duty.
Morris County has a rich and storied history of Purple Heart honorees and its historians have joined the mission of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, N.Y. to collect, preserve and share the stories of all Purple Heart recipients. The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation wants to make a full accounting of the local men and women who earned the honor, and the office is interested in any photographs, news accounts or artifacts that help to tell the story of each soldier.
“The Purple Heart Project is another avenue for veterans to get their history out there. We want to include everyone, regardless of the conflict they served in. Veterans’ history isn’t just national or global history, it is also a personal history of families on a very local level – even gut level. It’s important for future generations to know what their ancestors did. Their bravery and sacrifices should not be forgotten,” said Jan Williams, a Cultural and Historic Resources Specialist with the Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation.
The county has a list of more than 350 area veterans who received the Purple Heart, but historians are convinced it is only a fraction of the actual number. Williams also noted that the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, which operates as a research center and maintains a national database of Purple Heart recipients, also is trying to make a full accounting on a national level.
“This Purple Heart database contains service members’ names and units, but it has gaps and I hope that families will add this important information to the archives. For researchers and family members, it’s difficult to find information sources like this, completely cost free and easily accessed from home,” she explained.
Anyone may enroll a Purple Heart recipient to the national database, but documentation is required. Go to thepurpleheart.com.
Please contact Jan Williams if you can add to Morris County’s accounting of its Purple Heart recipients by emailing her at jwilliams@co.morris.nj.us.
