Commissioner of NY State Department of Veterans’ Services Viviana DeCohen and Executive Deputy Commissioner Joel Evans
An exhibit in the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor
NEW WINDSOR – The Empire State has kicked off a campaign to highlight New York’s designation as a “Purple Heart State.”
Members of the Department of Veterans’ Services gathered with Purple Heart recipients and their families at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, NY, Tuesday.
Nearly 100 people gathered to hear the moving stories of Purple Heart veterans and a Gold Star Mother–the first event held to commemorate the designation.
“Becoming a ‘Purple Heart State’ matters,” said Joel Evans, executive deputy commissioner of the Department of Veterans’ Services. “This designation reflects New York’s deep respect for those sacrifices and strengthens our responsibility to ensure that all who served—especially those wounded in combat– are honored not only in ceremony but through ongoing support and recognition.”
This past November, Governor Hochul signed legislation, designating New York as a “Purple Heart State,” making it one of several states to formally recognize the service and sacrifice of purple heart recipients.
Purple Heart recipient Randolph Bowen was severely injured while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom following the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
He said he wears the Purple Heart for his best friend, who was killed in combat and dedicates his life to the memories of the brothers he lost and to the men and women who were wounded.
“I pray that with New York being a Purple Heart State, that we don’t just stop there and continue to take care of every service member,” said Bowen.
“Do you ever hear veterans say, ‘I’m fighting the VA? I’m fighting the red tape? Well, we’ve already done the fighting. There is a lot more we can be doing for our soldiers. When you vote, make sure you support the things that affect veterans every day.”
Museum leadership says enrollment in the nation’s only museum database dedicated to purple heart recipients is voluntary and a work in progress, since only a fraction of all purple heart recipients is enrolled in the “Roll of Honor.”
They say they hope this campaign will encourage people to come forward and enter their friends and loved ones into the national database.
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military decoration awarded to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded or killed by enemy action.
It’s estimated that nearly two million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932, when the modern version of the award was first created.
George Washington bestowed the first fabric version of the Purple Heart, a badge of military merit, during the American Revolution in 1782 in the City of Newburgh at the Hasbrouck House which is now the Washington’s Headquarters museum, operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.