National Purple Heart Hall has Home in New Windsor
Published Apr 15, 2007
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor opened in Orange County in 2006.
It seems appropriate that the new National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located near a world famous military landmark.
The national shrine opened Nov. 10, 2006, in New Windsor – just 10 miles north of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The hall is also located on land where Gen. George Washington held his final encampment at the close of the American Revolution.
“This is now the only spot in the nation devoted solely to the 1.7 million Purple Heart recipients,” says Cathy Jimenez, spokesperson for the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. “Those recipients are brave Americans who were wounded or killed in combat, and a hall in their honor is long overdue.”
The 7,500-square-foot building features a reception area, gallery, exhibit room and education center for school groups. A key highlight is an interactive museum where Purple Heart recipients talk on videotape about their personal combat experience.
“We put out a call in March 2006 for veterans to send us their personal stories, and we were deluged with responses,” Jimenez says. “We hope the public from around the country and beyond will visit us to hear some of these inspirational stories.”
The opening ceremony in November 2006 featured a USO performance, military bands and a book signing by Deborah H. Tanish, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004.
“Our ultimate goal is for Congress to grant us national landmark status so that we will receive funding to always keep this hall up-to-date,” Jimenez says. “It is nice having a national attraction here in New York, and it is especially satisfying having such an important one.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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