FIRST - Recipient of the Badge of Military Merit - Middlefield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 19.774 W 072° 58.954
18T E 666217 N 4688340
Elijah Churchill was the first person to receive the Badge of Military Merit from George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. His grave and marker are located in Bell Cemetery, Skyline Trail, Middlefield, MA.
Waymark Code: WM14DB2
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 06/16/2021
Views: 0
A horizontal military grave marker notes that Elijah Churchill was the First Recipient of the Badge of Merit. The marker is inscribed:
ELIJAH CHURCHILL
SERG CONTINENTAL LINE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
SEP 4 1755 APR 11 1841
FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE
BADGE OF MILITARY MERIT
The Badge of Military Merit was designed and created by George Washington as a award given only to privates and non-commissioned officers for "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way". The design of the award took the form of a purple heart and was the first military award not meant to be given to officers. Elijah Churchill of the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons was awarded the first Badge of Military Merit on May 5, 1783.
"After the Revolutionary War, the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse although it was never officially abolished. In 1932, the United States War Department authorized the new Purple Heart Medal for soldiers who had previously received either a Wound Chevron or the Army Wound Ribbon. At that time, it was also determined that the Purple Heart Medal would be considered the official "successor decoration" to the Badge of Military Merit." Wikipedia: Link
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