NATIONAL PURPLE
HEART HALL OF
HONOR
Newburgh, NY

As they walk the long corridor from the entry to the main exhibition, visitors view a detailed timeline that describes the History of the Purple Heart, and a tally of the numbers of Purple Heart recipients associated with each of America’s military actions from the Revolution to the present day.

Visitors next come upon a series of exhibitions that express the impersonal chaos and destruction of war, and describe what all members of the military go through in the process that leads to the Purple Heart. Starting with combat and casualty, the process moves to triage, evacuation, recovery, convalescence or death, and finally the award of the Purple Heart.

These smaller spaces contain a single curved couch for up to eight people. Each of the three spaces focuses on a video presentation of a simple theme, such as “How I was wounded...”, How it changed my life...”, and “Those we left behind...”, narrated by Purple Heart recipients.

Until the Hall of Honor was created no single record of Purple Heart medal recipients existed. The computer database created for the exhibition provides us all with a comprehensive Roll of Honor. The process of collecting information began in 2000 through the assistance of Purple Heart recipients, has continued at meetings of Purple Heart recipients, and will continue on the Purple Heart Hall of Honor Website.