The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in the town of New Windsor, NY, at the site of the last base of the Continental Army commanded by George Washington during the Revolutionary War. It was formed in 2002 at the proposal of then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to serve as a repository for the national registry of military personnel who have earned the Purple Heart by sustaining a wound during combat. Recipients may have received their medal either while still alive, or posthumously.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor exists to collect and honor the stories and acts of service of all service members who have earned the right to wear the medal. Originally a medal given only to soldiers, the distinction of being a Purple Heart recipient has been expanded to all military members over the years. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor collects documentary evidence of the many service members who have answered the call of duty and been wounded while fighting for the interests of the United States. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is frequently visited by veterans and by grateful citizens who wish to learn more and to pay tribute to those who have served with distinction.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor provides interactive displays to tell the stories of those who have earned the right to wear this military honor. Oral histories are collected from survivors that recount the situations under which they earned their medals, and its meaning to them. In WWI, over 320,000 personnel were awarded the Purple Heart. In WWII, the number reached 1,076,245. The Korean War had over 118,000 recipients and the Vietnam War over 351,000. The Purple Heart was also awarded during the Persian Gulf War, and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
