Purple Heart Event Recognizes New York's Status as A Purple Heart State

Honoring Sacrifice, Preserving Legacy:

New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen, New York State Department of Veterans’ Services and Executive Deputy Commissioner Joel Evans

The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Launches Purple Heart State Program at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

NEW WINDSOR, NY – The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) hosted a kickoff program today, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, to commemorate New York State’s official designation as a “Purple Heart State.” The event celebrated the history, meaning, and enduring legacy of the Purple Heart while honoring the service and sacrifice of New York Service Members who were awarded the nation’s oldest military decoration presented in the name of the President of the United States.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded or killed by enemy action, symbolizing extraordinary sacrifice in defense of the nation. An estimated two million Purple Hearts have been awarded since the award’s inception.

From its earliest days, the Purple Heart has stood as a symbol recognizing service and sacrifice, tracing its origins to August 7, 1782, when George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit for a “singularly meritorious act” among enlisted soldiers during the American Revolution. All but forgotten after the war, it was revived in 1932, transforming Washington’s vision into the modern Purple Heart. Over time, the Purple Heart has evolved to reflect the realities of modern warfare – expanding across all branches of service, recognizing posthumous sacrifice, and encompassing all those wounded or killed by enemy action.

Held at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor – the nation’s only museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of Purple Heart recipients – today’s program marked a historic moment recognizing New York’s commitment to our Purple Heart recipients and ensuring their stories are remembered for generations to come. The date of the modern Purple Heart’s creation, February 22, 1932, coincides with the 200^th birthday of George Washington, further underscoring the deep historical roots of the medal and its enduring significance in American military tradition.

Pictured above are photos from today’s program at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor. Featured, top to bottom, are:

New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen, New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Joel Evans, New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Deputy Counsel Benjamin Pomerance, and Purple Heart Recipients Tony Lassiter, Vietnam War, Flavio Martinez, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Carlos Cole, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed bipartisan legislation (Senate Bill S.1889/Assembly Bill A.29) designating New York as a Purple Heart State as part of a broader Veterans Day legislative package aimed at honoring service, expanding employment opportunities for disabled Veterans, and protecting earned benefits from fraud. The designation formally recognized the sacrifices made by our State’s Purple Heart recipients and affirms New York’s commitment to supporting All Who Served through meaningful action. The legislation counts New York among several states that have adopted the designation of “Purple Heart State,” including Ohio, Washington, and Virginia, reflecting a growing, nonpartisan national movement to formally recognize the service and sacrifice of Purple Heart recipients.

New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Chair of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, New York State Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, and New York State Senator Jake Ashby provided special video remarks for today’s event.

DVS Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen said, “The Purple Heart State designation strengthens the promise we make to every person who wore the uniform of our nation: that their service will be honored, their benefits protected, and their opportunities expanded – not diminished – in civilian life. By formally recognizing New York as a Purple Heart State, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring the courage and sacrifice of Purple Heart recipients and ensuring their stories continue to inspire future generations. We thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast allyship and for championing policies that uphold dignity, protect those who served, and ensure every Veteran and Military Family in our state is supported and empowered.”

 DVS Executive Deputy Commissioner Joel Evans said, “The Purple Heart represents sacrifice in its purest, noblest, bravest form: Service Members who gave of themselves in defense of our nation. 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 ceremonially, but through ongoing support and recognition.”

 Anita Pidala, Director of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, said, “The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor exists to preserve the incredible, personal stories behind this medal – stories of courage, resilience, and sacrifice. Hosting this program alongside the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services allows us to highlight both the history of the Purple Heart and the living legacy carried forward by its recipients and their families.”

 Peter Bedrossian, Program Director, National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, said, “Every Purple Heart represents a story of courageous service that must never be forgotten. The designation of New York as a Purple Heart State strengthens our shared responsibility to preserve those stories and ensure future generations understand the true cost of freedom. We are honored to partner with the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services in marking this important milestone and in continuing our mission to connect visitors with the lived experiences of those who were wounded in service to our nation.”

 Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Chair of the NYS Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs said: “Our veterans who have been distinguished with the Purple Heart are heroes we can never fully repay. They are the men and women who put their lives on the line for a fellow service member, to pull a civilian from danger, and to defend our freedoms. The Purple Heart is our nation’s oldest military decoration, and it endures because it represents something timeless – a courageous commitment to others above your own self.

Whether they stormed the beaches of Normandy, braved the jungles of Vietnam, or endured the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, these soldiers gave so much for our great nation. The men and women who wear the Purple Heart are among the very best our country has to offer; real, everyday people who chose a path of service that many would not, and who paid a price very few can understand. I am proud to represent a state like New York that not only honors their sacrifice but leads by example as a Purple Heart State."

 Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “Designating New York as a Purple Heart State is a meaningful and lasting tribute to the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our service members who were wounded or gave their lives in defense of our nation. I was proud to sponsor this legislation with my colleague Senator Jake Ashby to ensure that New York formally recognizes these heroes and preserves their legacy for future generations. Although I am unable to join today’s kickoff at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, I am honored to recognize Tony Lassiter, Randolph Bowen, Flavio Martinez, Carlos Cole, and Gold Star Mother Carrie Farley and her son, SSG Derek J. Farley, whose service and sacrifice embody the very meaning of the Purple Heart. I commend the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services and all who are working to elevate the stories of Purple Heart recipients.”

Today’s program featured remarks from DVS Commissioner DeCohen, Executive Deputy Commissioner Evans, and National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Director Anita Pidala, who gave an overview of the mission and history of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, and video remarks from Senator Scarcella-Spanton, Assemblymember McDonald, and Senator Ashby. Four New York State Purple Heart recipients, and a Gold Star Mother of a Purple Heart recipient, representing multiple generations of service also delivered heartfelt remarks:

• Tony Lassiter, Vietnam War;

• Randolph Bowen, Operation Iraqi Freedom;

• Flavio Martinez, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel;

• Carlos Cole, Operation Iraqi Freedom, who made his first-ever visit to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor during today’s event; and

• Carrie Farley, Gold Star Mother of SSG Derek J. Farley, who was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Following today’s formal program, attendees were invited to participate in a special guided tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor led by its Program Director, and recognized Purple Heart Subject Matter Expert, Peter Bedrossian, providing an opportunity to experience firsthand the stories and exhibits honoring Purple Heart recipients from across the nation.

 It is estimated that nearly two million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932 as no comprehensive list of recipients has been developed by the Federal Government. One of the many key features of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is the “Roll of Honor” – www.thepurpleheart.com/roll-of-honor – a dynamic online database created and maintained by the Hall dedicated to honoring and preserving the stories of Purple Heart recipients from all wars for which the award has been available.

As a New York State Museum, the Hall does not automatically receive recipient information, nor does the Hall have access to military records. As such, enrollment is voluntary, and the Roll is a work in progress: Enrollments are provided by the recipients, their families, or friends. Although only a fraction of all recipients are enrolled, the Roll of Honor represents all 50 States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Samoa, reflecting the “National” in the Museum’s name.

The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor are partnering together through a new public awareness effort being unveiled this March to promote the importance of the Roll of Honor. More details and a special video presentation on this effort will be available during the first week of March 2026.

About the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:

Located in New Windsor, New York, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor offers visitors an incredible journey through military history, as well as reminders of human sacrifice and the cost of freedom. Individuals are invited to visit the facility in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Learn more at https://www.thepurpleheart.com/.

About the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services:

 The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members, `and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services, and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website – veterans.ny.gov – to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Threads, and Bluesky Social.

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