Late Senator Bill Larkin was honored during the ceremony
By Jason Kaplan
The Purple Heart Hall of Honor remained closed for a year as it underwent a $17 million expansion. On Veterans Day, last week, the museum, awarded to those veterans who received the Badge of Military Merit as a result of being wounded or killed in combat, re-opened to the public with a dedication ceremony.
The Hall of Honor first opened in 2006, in New Windsor, not far from the spot where George Washington first established the Badge of Military Merit, the inspiration for the modern Purple Heart. It’s also the location where, in 1932, 137 local WWI veterans were awarded their Purple Heart. It’s the first facility in the nation to honor the recipients of the Purple Heart.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul noted the significance of holding the dedication ceremony on Veterans Day, adding the nation has an obligation to the men and women who put on the uniform, especially those wounded or killed in action.
Hochul said there are 1.8 million recipients of the Purple Heart, but their stories were never told and captured in one place until the facility was built. There is a struggle to obtain all those stories.
“Those who are still living don’t talk about it,” she said. “I think there’s something wrong there. These are stories which should be told with pride to inspire the next generation. We’ll always be under assault. We’ll always be challenging our freedoms we fought so hard for since the beginning of this country. There will always be brave men and women in uniform. Why not tell the stories of courage, friendship, and patriotism! That’s what this place is for.”
The expansion project tripled the size of the museum which now offers 7,000 square feet of exhibition space.
“It really allows us to better tell the stories and preserve the memory of the many men and women who put their lives on the line for our country,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “The Hall contains thousands of stories from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The improvements will allow visitors to better understand this inspiring history.”
Kulleseid said the Hall’s mission is to continue building a database of Purple Heart recipients, but the public’s help is needed to collect these stories.
Beside the Roll of Honor, the updated facility integrates audio-visual and media presentations, as well as museum-quality casework for each area with interpretive graphics, locally controlled lighting, touch-screen interactive monitors, and multiple large-format graphic displays.
The expanded exhibits include more personal stories, interactive displays, and artifacts that highlight the experiences of featured Purple Heart recipients. The new exhibits allow the Hall to tell individual stories about joining the service, the day of the incident, field treatment and evacuation, the changing nature of warfare, the consequences of war, road to recovery and the ultimate sacrifice.
Exterior enhancements include a redesigned entrance, improved accessibility, native landscaping, more convenient parking and walkway improvements.
During the ceremony, Former Senator Bill Larkin was posthumously awarded the New York State Veterans’ and Military Champion Award for his lifetime of service and unwavering commitment to the men and women who selflessly served the United States of America and New York State.
Pat Larkin accepted the award on behalf of her husband. Newburgh philanthropist William Kaplan was awarded the New York State Veterans’ Community Ally and Advocate Award for his outstanding advocacy and support to veterans, active duty/reserve military and their families in the Greater Hudson Valley Region, as well as for his commitment to establishing the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor.
