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PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on August 7, 1782, George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit,
which was the first medal authorized for enlisted soldiers in the Continental Army to recognize a
"singularly meritorious action" by a solider; and
WHEREAS, on February 22, 1932, US Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur established the
Purple Heart Award in the spirit of the Badge of Military Merit in honor of George Washington's
bicentennial birthday and authorized the award for soldiers in the United States Army for soldiers who
are wounded or lose their lives in military action and August 7th is annually recognized as Purple Heart
Day; and
WHEREAS, in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the Purple Heart Award to
other branches of the United States military by authorizing the Navy Department to award the Purple
Heart to personnel wounded or killed in action beginning with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December
7, 1941; and today the Purple Heart is authorized for people serving in all branches of the United States
military who are wounded or lose their lives in military actions; and
WHEREAS, following the attack at Pearl Harbor, until the day she passed away, Eleanor
Roosevelt carried in her wallet a piece of paper with the following written upon it: "Dear lord, lest I
continue in my complacent ways, help me to remember that somewhere someone died for me today.
And if there be war, help me to remember to ask, 'Am 1 worth dying for?"' and in our own daily walk,
we should always remember those serving and their families and honor their service and their
sacrifices in our words, hearts, and actions; and
WHEREAS, the Fred Needham Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2669, which represents and
advocates for veterans in the community of Port Orchard, requests the City of Port Orchard declare
itself a "Purple Heart City" and the City of Port Orchard would like to honor and remember people
wounded and who have lost their lives in action and in service to our country; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Robert Putaansuu, Mayor of the City of Port
Orchard, Washington do hereby proclaim the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and
hereby declare the City of Port Orchard to be a:
Purple Heart City
Signed the 15th day of April 2022
Robert Putaansuu, Mayor