Vets honored at Purple Heart reception

SIMI VALLEY, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Wounded U.S. soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan were honored during a ceremony in California marking the 225th anniversary of the Purple Heart.

"We need to learn from and salute your courage," former California Gov. Pete Wilson told dozens of veterans during Saturday's ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley.

The Purple Heart was created as the Badge of Military Merit by Gen. George Washington in 1782 and formally renamed in 1932, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"For everything we are and everything we have, we need to look to these men and women who are willing to stand up and do what others are not willing to do," said retired Sgt. Chris Martin, who was wounded in Afghanistan in 2002 and now works for the Long Beach Police Department.