Purple Heart Medal 2019 Forever Stamps

The Purple Heart is awarded, in the name of the President of the United States, to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart — an organization for combat-wounded veterans — it is “the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier.”

Originally established by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War as a badge of merit — a heart made of purple cloth — the award was discontinued after the war. In 1932, on the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth, it was reinstated and redesigned as a purple, heart-shaped medal edged in gold, suspended from a purple-and-white ribbon. At its center appears a profile bust of George Washington beneath his family coat of arms.

The 2019 Purple Heart Medal stamp is a refined update of the 2012 issue. It features a striking purple border that echoes the vivid color of the medal and its ribbon. The medal was photographed by Ira Wexler, with William J. Gicker serving as art director and Bryan Duefrene as designer.