Show FIRST U S MILITARY MEDAL government gave gen george washington decoration to commemorate evacuation of boston the first military medal ever bestowed by the american government was one la in gold to gen george washington ln ton to commemorate the evacuation of boston by the british in 1776 capt paul jones was similarly rewarded after its his famous light with the in 1779 and the three men paulding williams and van wart who captured sial maj john andre in 1780 were given special medals by congress the first decoration and so far as col robert E wyllie of the general staff ot of the U S A and author of a work on military and civil orders decorations and insignia has been ablo able to discover which had a general application catlon to enlisted men was the result ot of an order issued in 1782 by general washington A soldier cited for the decoration was permitted to wear on Ms his facings over his left breast the figure of a heart in purple cloth or slik silk edged with narrow lace or binding detroit news |