Purple Heart Medal - U.S. Military Decoration for Wounded or Fallen Service Members #2004444 (License: Personal Use)

The image displays both sides of the U.S. Purple Heart medal-a heart-shaped bronze badge with purple enamel, suspended from a purple-and-white ribbon. The obverse shows a gold relief profile of George Washington above a shield with three white stars on a red field; the reverse is engraved “FOR MILITARY MERIT” and the recipient’s name, here Horace J. Keller. Instituted in 1782 by General Washington as the Badge of Military Merit, it was revived in 1932 and remains one of the oldest U.S. military awards still in use.

This image is used on veteran affairs websites, military history pages, museum exhibits, and government resources to illustrate the Purple Heart’s design and symbolism. It serves users seeking information about U.S. military decorations, eligibility, or historical context-often during Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or when researching personal or family military service records.