On May 3, 1783, General George Washington did something unprecedented in military history. Standing on the parade grounds at the New Windsor, N.Y., cantonment, he presented awards – the Badge of Military Merit – to two enlisted soldiers. It was the first time any military awards had been given to other than officers. Several days later, a third soldier received the award.

All three recipients – the only ones documented during the Revolution – were from Connecticut. The story of how this award came into existence and the exploits that earned it are a little-known footnote in the American Revolution.

Gerard J. Monaghan, a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel and military historian, will take you through the history of this award – which became the Purple Heart – and examine the deeds of other heroic Connecticut residents.

___

Gerard J. Monaghan, co-founder and former president of the Association of Bridal Consultants, had a parallel career, teaching journalism and practicing marketing and public relations for the Army and Army Reserve for almost 30 years. He served in Belgium and with the 25 th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, Vietnam. As a Reservist, he was called up for Grenada, Panama and Gulf I, where he worked for Gen. Colin Powell and edited the Defense Department’s report to

Congress on the war. A military historian, he retired as a lieutenant colonel. In a prior life, he was an editor for The News-Times in Danbury and The Advocate in Stamford. He holds degrees in journalism and political science, and serves on the New Milford Planning Commission.