WASHINGTON () President Donald Trump hosted nearly 100 Purple Heart recipients at the White House on Thursday afternoon for a National Purple Heart Day ceremony recognizing wounded warriors and fallen service members.

The event in the East Room highlighted the sacrifices made by military personnel who earned the nation’s oldest military decoration for being wounded or killed in combat.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins attended.

National Purple Heart Day honors troops wounded or killed in combat

National Purple Heart Day, marked annually on Aug. 7, commemorates the military honor that traces to George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit in 1782. The modern Purple Heart was established in 1932 on Washington’s 200th birthday.

According to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, more than 1.8 million medals have been presented since the award’s inception in 1782.

Among the honorees were Chris LaCivita, Trump’s former campaign manager and Marine Corps Purple Heart recipient, as well as father-son Purple Heart recipients Brian and Kevin Willette, both wounded while serving in Afghanistan.

Several veterans sent their Purple Heart medals to Trump following an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally in July, believing the president deserved the honor for being wounded while serving his country.

Representatives from military organizations, including the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project and Military Order of the Purple Heart, attended the ceremony.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.