National Purple Heart Hall of Honor facts for kids
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is a museum in New Windsor, New York. It is a special place that tells the stories of military members who have received the Purple Heart medal. This medal is given to those who have been injured or killed while fighting for their country.
The museum is located at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site. This is where the Continental Army had its last camp during the Revolutionary War. It is the only museum in the United States dedicated to a single military medal.
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History of the Purple Heart
The story of the Purple Heart begins with George Washington. In 1782, at his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, he created an award called the Badge of Military Merit. This was a special honor for enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers who showed great courage. Before this, awards were usually only for high-ranking officers.
The First Honorees
In the spring of 1783, three soldiers were the first to receive the Badge of Military Merit:
- Sergeant Elijah Churchill
- Sergeant William Brown
- Sergeant Daniel Bissel
After the Revolutionary War, the badge was not used for a long time.
Bringing the Medal Back
In 1932, on George Washington's 200th birthday, General Douglas MacArthur brought the award back. He redesigned it and renamed it the Purple Heart. The first new Purple Hearts were given to 137 Army veterans from World War I.
In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a change. He ordered that the Purple Heart could be given to members of all military branches, not just the Army. He also said it could be awarded posthumously, which means given to a service member after they have died in combat.
Today, the Purple Heart is given to any member of the U.S. military who is wounded or killed in action.
Creating the Hall of Honor
In 1995, a newspaper article talked about building a Purple Heart museum in Connecticut. A man from Cornwall, New York, named Patric Morrison, read this and wrote a letter. He argued that the museum should be in the Newburgh area because of its connection to George Washington and the first medal.
The publisher of a local newspaper, Everett Smith, agreed with Morrison. They began to work on making the museum a reality in New York. They believed the New Windsor Cantonment was the perfect spot.
A group called the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) took on the project. They decided to name it the "National Purple Heart Hall of Honor." For eleven years, a team including Everett Smith, Lt. Gen. James D. Hughes, New York State Senator William Larkin, and Joseph Farina worked to raise support for the museum.
Building the Museum
New York State gave $4.1 million to help plan and build the Hall of Honor. The Military Order of the Purple Heart gave $500,000, and another $402,000 came from federal funds. Many veterans and their families also donated money.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor officially opened on November 10, 2006. Since then, more money has been provided to expand and improve the museum.
The Museum's Mission
The main goal of the Hall of Honor is to collect, save, and share the stories of every Purple Heart recipient. The museum wants to make sure that the bravery and sacrifice of these service members are never forgotten.
Visitors can learn about these heroes through different exhibits. There are also video interviews with veterans. A special computer program called the Roll of Honor lets visitors look up individuals and read their stories.
2022 Commemorative Coins
In 2020, the United States Congress passed a law to create special coins to honor the museum. The U.S. Mint made gold, silver, and clad half-dollar coins.
Money raised from selling these coins was donated to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc. This helps the organization continue its work of honoring Purple Heart recipients.
See also
In Spanish: Salón Nacional de Honor del Corazón Púrpura para niños
- Robert O. Binnewies
