New York officials marked the state’s new “Purple Heart State” designation Tuesday with a kickoff ceremony at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor.
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services hosted the 11 a.m. event to recognize service members wounded or killed in combat and to highlight the history and legacy of the Purple Heart.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation in 2025 designating New York as a Purple Heart State as part of a broader Veterans Day package. Lawmakers said the designation formally recognizes the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients and affirms the state’s commitment to supporting veterans.
The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are wounded or killed by enemy action. The medal traces its roots to 1782, when George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit. The modern Purple Heart was established in 1932.
Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen said the 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.”
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.”
The program included remarks from department leaders and officials from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Several Purple Heart recipients spoke, including Tony Lassiter, a Vietnam War veteran; Randolph Bowen, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom; Flavio Martinez, who served in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel; and Carlos Cole, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. Carrie Farley, a Gold Star Mother of Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, who received two Purple Hearts for service in Operation Enduring Freedom, also addressed the audience.
After the ceremony, attendees toured the Hall of Honor, which collects and preserves stories of Purple Heart recipients.
State officials said they plan to launch a public awareness effort in March to promote the Hall’s Roll of Honor, an online database dedicated to preserving recipients’ stories.
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