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Free Military Tours On Wednesday Purple Heart Day

Purple_heart at American Independence Museum in Exeter, NH

ON WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday August 8 the American Independence Museum celebrates the anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit, also known as the “Purple Heart” by offering free tours to all active and retired military personnel. General George Washington issued an order on August 7, 1782 to acknowledge the meritorious actions of enlisted men.  (See details below)

 

The badge was to be “the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk…to be worn on the left breast.”   Three men were known to have received the honor at that time, but there is no surviving written record of others who were honored with the badge.

The museum will display two Purple Hearts that are in their collection, along with other medals and military ephemera. One of the badges is of faded purple cloth and was acquired by Society of the Cincinnati member William Willey from a barn in Deerfield, NH in the 1920s; the name of the recipient is not known.  The piece was recently conserved by Deborah Bede and its age was authenticated by textile expert Jane Nylander. The badge and piece of wool uniform to which it is sewn were then placed in a new display case.  The World War II medal on display belonged to J. Phillip Webber and was donated by his widow, Mrs. Alice Webber.

All active and retired military personnel are invited to take a free tour on Wednesday, August 8th during the regular tour hours of 10 to 4pm.  The last tours will begin at 3pm; tours fees are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and those under 6 years of age are free.

A Purple Heart craft activity will be available for children.  For more information or directions, please visit www.independencemuseum.org or call 603-772-2622.

The American Independence Museum is a not-for-profit organization in Exeter, New Hampshire with a mission to connect America’s Revolutionary past with the present through its tours, programs, and special events.  The museum is also participating in the National Endowment for the Arts Blue Star Museums program, which offers free tours to active military personnel until Labor Day.  Over 1,800 museums across the country are involved in this annual summer program.  For more information, visit http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums.

 

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