Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T! Remembering those who have sacrificed on this Veterans Day and thank you to all who have served!
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor shares a building with the museum for Washington’s Cantonment at New Windsor because it is here that the military award got its start. George Washington, while stationed at his Newburgh headquarters in 1782, created The Badge of Military Merit to recognize acts of valor by common soldiers. Three soldiers from the cantonment received the badge and then it fell into disuse.
General MacArthur revived and rededicated the the award to honor George Washington on his 200th birthday. In 1932, 137 World War I veterans received the first purple heart awards in a ceremony at the New Windsor Cantonment. Today the Purple Heart is awarded to members of all branches of the military who are wounded or killed in combat.
In 2002, Senator Hillary Clinton introduced Resolution 113 to create a National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Newburgh locals provided compelling arguments for building it in Newburgh and so it was dedicated at the Cantonment site and opened in 2006.
There is no comprehensive list of the estimated 1.8 million recipients of the Purple Heart, so part of the Hall of Honor’s mission is to collect and preserve this data. If you or a family member have received a Purple Heart, you can obtain the enrollment form from the website here.
The museum chronicles the history of the Purple Heart and towards the back of the hall, there is a small theater where you can watch a ten-minute film featuring several veterans telling their stories. Behind the theater, there are kiosks with computers to look up names in the honor roll.
To see my other posts from The Hudson Valley National Heritage Area, please click the links below:
- DeWint House (Washington’s HQ at Tappan)
- Camp Shanks
- Storm King Arts Center
- New Windsor Cantonment– Coming Soon!
- Purple Heart Hall of Honor
Location: 374 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor, NY
Designation: National Heritage Area, Museum
Date designated or established: 11/30/2006
Date of my visit: 2/18/2019
This is a nice Vets’Day post. I will make sure local members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart are aware of the Hall of Honor.
Thanks so much 🙏🏻
That is a very beautiful Veteran Day’s post. My daughter’s dad received a Purple Heart.
Thanks! And thanks to him for his service 🙏🏻
How interesting- didn’t know this existed. Thinking of my father who is long gone, but was awarded the Purple Heart when he was wounded in WWII. Thank you for this remembrance.
Thanks! If you have any of the information (is, what unit), you could make sure he is listed through their website. I had an uncle who was wounded in WWII, but I don’t think my cousins have any of the information to make sure his name is included. It’s a shame the military can’t just provide the data to the hall of honor, at least for the more recent ones
Someone in my family does…I will look it up, thanks!
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine.
Thanks 🙏🏻
You are welcome
A gift on Veteran’s Day, another great park to visit near us. Thanks.
Thanks, yes, it’s worth a visit…2 parks in one as the Cantonement is on the grounds
I was there. Very nice.
🙏🏻Thanks!
Wow! I’d love to visit there sometime!
If you time it with a living history event at the Cantonement, it’s a good day trip
Never knew this existed. A great tribute to our wounded heros.
Yes indeed 🙏🏻
That is amazing! I had no idea this existed either.
What a great place to honor those who served.
Thanks so much! Yes it is 🙏🏻