The grand opening ceremony for the EYP-designed National Purple Heart Hall of Honor – a museum, educational center, memorial, and archive that includes personal stories of Purple Heart veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan – occurred on November 10th. Located in New York’s Hudson River Valley at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, overlooking the location of the Continental Army’s camp during the final winter of the Revolutionary War, where General George Washington issued the first purple cloth “Badge of Merit” for outstanding service, and also where some of the nation’s first Purple Hearts were presented to World War I veterans, the 7,500-sf facility is the first in the nation to recognize the more than 1.7 million Americans wounded or killed in action while serving in the U.S. Military.

Organized around Veteran’s Day, the opening celebration drew veterans from across the U.S., and was attended by more than 3,000 people, including NY Governor George Pataki and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. As the only permanent facility to commemorate the extraordinary service and sacrifice of Purple Heart recipients, the Hall of Honor is already achieving substantial national recognition. EYP is extremely proud to be part of such an important piece of history.