General George Washington awarding The Badge of Military Merit

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the
name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving with the
U.S. military.

The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was
established by George Washington—then the commander-in-chief of the
Continental Army – by order from his Newburgh, New York headquarters
on August 7, 1782. The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three
Revolutionary War soldiers.

From then on as its legend grew; so did its appearance. Although never
abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until
after World War I.