Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announces the establishment of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom on Sept. 27, 2001, in the Pentagon. The medal is the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart and will be awarded to DoD civilian employees who are killed or wounded by hostile action while serving in support of the department. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Henry H. Shelton, U.S. Army, joined Rumsfeld at the briefing.