National Purple Heart Day, 2026

Proclamation 11053 of August 6, 2026

National Purple Heart Day, 2026

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On National Purple Heart Day, we honor the immeasurable
sacrifices of every valiant service member wounded or
killed in combat in defense of our Nation and we
reaffirm our eternal gratitude for their unrivaled
heroism.

First bestowed by General George Washington in 1782,
the Purple Heart stands as our Nation's oldest military
decoration, reserved for those wounded or fallen in
defense of our country. From the battlefields of our
Revolution to the deserts and mountains of the War on
Terror and across every conflict far and wide, its
recipients have displayed valor beyond measure.
Sustained by an abiding love of liberty and unfailing
devotion to country, Purple Heart recipients endured
grievous wounds and withstood the horrors of battle,
and some even paid the ultimate price to preserve our
freedom. The gallantry reflected in the purple fabric
on their chest is forever woven into the red, white,
and blue thread of our shared American story, and their
service remains a solemn reminder of the immense cost
of freedom and the sacred responsibility borne by those
who wear our Nation's uniform.

While we can never fully repay the recipients of this
hallowed medal, we are honoring their sacrifice by
ensuring America remains the greatest beacon of freedom
on Earth. My Administration has swiftly rebuilt our
military into the strongest and most lethal fighting
force in the world, restoring pride in military service
and achieving record recruitment numbers. We are
supporting our veterans beyond the battlefield by
strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs,
eliminating bureaucratic waste and slashing its
processing backlog by more than 74 percent since I
returned to office. We are opening new veteran health
clinics, fighting to eradicate veteran homelessness,
and providing financial relief to senior veterans by
ending taxes on Social Security. Under my leadership,
our commitment to America's veterans is absolute, and
we will always protect the freedoms they secured.

As we continue to celebrate 250 years since the
founding of our great country, we recognize that the
Independence we cherish today was secured by the blood,
sweat, and tears of the men and women who answered the
call to defend it. Today, and every day, we salute our
American warriors who bear the Purple Heart and whose
courage carried forward the enduring blessings of
freedom. We recognize the families who share in their
sacrifices. Above all, we pledge to never forget their
service and to forever honor their indelible legacy.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim August 7, 2026, as
National Purple Heart Day. I call on all Americans to
observe this day by honoring the courage and sacrifice
of our Purple Heart recipients and expressing gratitude
to our veterans.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and fifty-
first.