CNN reports that “Awards and honors bestowed by the military have been a major topic of conversation — and some confusion — in US politics… Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is facing a backlash for laying into the Gold Star parents of Muslim US soldier Humayun Khan, who died in a suicide bombing during the Iraq War, after they denounced his policies at the Democratic National Convention. Trump was then criticized for comments made after a supporter gave him a Purple Heart award at a rally in Virginia… responding that he ‘always wanted’ one, after which critics asked if he knew why the honor is bestowed. Here’s a breakdown of the major honors given to military service members and their families by the US government and the reasons they are granted.”