In 2005, the Texas Legislature designated the Texas segment of IH-35 as the Purple Heart Trail. I was honored with an invitation to speak in Temple at the September 9 commemorative unveiling of the official highway sign proclaiming this designation.

Two signs in Bell County are now on display. One is in the vicinity of mile-marker 296 on the southbound side of IH-35 between Temple and Belton.  The other is near mile-marker 287 on the northbound side between Salado and Belton.

While pondering what to say at the ceremonial unveiling, I did some reading on the history of the Purple Heart. The more I read, the greater the pride I felt for those who earned this particular medal. Naming IH-35 the Purple Heart Trail was especially fitting, as this is the highway to the greatest military installation in the world at Fort Hood.  

The Purple Heart is a medal whose origins go to the birthing of our nation. General George Washington himself created the original Purple Heart design for his new Badge of Military Merit on August 7, 1782.


General Washington described the new award this way in the order that created it:
"The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with due reward. The name and regiment of the persons so certified are to be enrolled in a Book of Merit which shall be kept in the orderly room."


General Washington's order goes on:
"Men who have merited this distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permitted to do. The order to be retroactive to the earliest stages of the war, and to be a permanent one."


What made this new honor historically unique was that it was expressly available to the common soldier, not just to officers. General Washington gave the reason for this: "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all."

Only three members of General Washington's army, all non-commissioned officer, were honored with this award during the Revolutionary War. Two of these original Purple Hearts still exist today.

The Purple Heart then fell out of use by the military, with General Washington's original order lost for almost 150 years. The order was revealed during preparation work for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth.

To "respect the memory and military accomplishments" of General Washington, the unique award he created for the common soldier was officially brought back into use in 1932. The new version of the Purple Heart incorporated a relief portrait of General Washington and features his family coat of arms. It is said to be the most costly military medal in the world to produce, with 19 separate steps required to craft one.

The Purple Heart now honors those wounded in combat to protect freedom. It is a medal earned with a soldier's blood shed for the cause of liberty. The Texas Legislature designated IH-35 as the Purple Heart Trail as a small measure of appreciation for what these soldiers have done for us.

We who travel this road in freedom do so, in part, because of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who earned the Purple Heart displayed on these new commemorative signs along IH-35.

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