Dedication At Purple Heart Hall Of Honor On Veterans Day

NEW WINDSOR, NY — A $17 million expansion of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, a military history museum in the Hudson Valley, will be dedicated on Veterans Day.

Officials at the ceremony will include Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, museum staff and local elected officials.

"This will be a destination for anyone who wants to know what the cost of freedom truly is," Kulleseid said when the expansion project was first announced.

The museum is in New Windsor, a few miles from the Washington Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh — where General George Washington was quartered when he established the Purple Heart's forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit.

In 1932, the Purple Heart was created in recognition of Washington's ideals and for the bicentennial of his birth. It is awarded to American military personnel who have been wounded or killed by enemy action.

The first Purple Heart recipients, 137 World War I veterans, received their medals on the site of the New Windsor Cantonment, the final encampment of the Continental Army in the winter of 1782-83. The cantonment is a state historic site open to the public, and the museum is located there.

The staff of the Purple Heart Hall of Honor have been collecting records of Purple Heart awardees (there was not a consistent record kept by the Department of Defense). At this time, it estimated that there may have been 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded.

In addition to the ever-growing database, the museum has exhibits and hosts events. See the website including featured recipients here.

In 2019-29, the Hall of Honor was expanded with almost 4,300 square feet of new and refurbished exhibit space, and increased emphasis on stories of individual award recipients as well as the changing nature of warfare, the consequences of war, road to recovery and the ultimate sacrifice. The expanded exhibits include more personal stories, interactive displays, and artifacts that highlight the experiences of featured Purple Heart recipients.

Since the Hall opened, it has drawn more than 176,000 visitors. It offers educational programs for schools, camps, and Scout groups as well as organized tours for adult groups. In addition, events and activities are held throughout the year to commemorate significant anniversaries or historic events related to the Purple Heart and its history.

For information on visiting, events and group activities, or to enroll a Purple Heart recipient, call 845-561-1765 or 877-284-6667, or visit the website.