The National Purple Heart Trail honors soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who received the Purple Heart in the name of the president of the United States after being wounded or losing their lives in defense of the nation. The original Purple Heart, first designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by General George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, on August 7, 1782. In Delaware, the 14th General Assembly unanimously passed House Joint Resolution #21, which the governor signed on June 26, 2008, proclaiming the portion of Interstate 95 through Delaware connecting Maryland and Pennsylvania as the Purple Heart Trail. The trail is part of a national project of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization composed entirely of Purple Heart recipients that promotes patriotism, dedication to duty, and the objectives of respect, fraternalism, history, and education.