NEW WINDSOR – New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D, New York) made a stop in New Windsor on Tuesday to tour the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor together with Assemblyman Chris Eachus (D, New Windsor).
It was part of the speaker’s annual statewide tour where he gets to see firsthand what state taxpayer dollars are funding and what deserves inclusion in the state budget.
“I’m really impressed,” said Heastie as he toured the exhibits, which includes a Vietnam era “Huey” helicopter, configured for medical evacuation. “The helicopter was my favorite part,” he said.
Heastie said this is an amazing tribute to people who have been of service to this country and sacrificed their lives to protect our way of life. It’s important for people to understand why we have the greatest country in the world, and a lot of it has to do with the people who are remembered here.”
“When the Speaker comes here each year, we like to show him not only things of interest by why we go back to Albany in January and ask for money to support these magnificent places all across New York,” said Eachus, who represents New York’s 99th District, which includes New Windsor. “As soon as he walked in, he was in awe.”
Heastie purchased a World War II model airplane from the gift shop before touring the grounds.
The Hall of Honor is operated under the jurisdiction of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Hall of Honor Program Director Peter Bedrossian conducted the tour and pointed out that he and his co-workers are all state employees.
“We are funded year to year, and every Governor has funded us,” he said.
Both Heastie and Eachus are running for re-election in November.
“I certainly hope that I’ll be able to go back to Albany and make sure that places like this get the funding they need,” said Eachus. “Elections have consequences, and voters need to understand that when they come to us and ask what can be done about the current political environment, we have one answer for them – get out and vote.”
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military decoration awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded or killed by enemy action.
It’s estimated that nearly two million purple hearts have been awarded since 1932, when the modern version of the award was first created.
George Washington bestowed the first fabric version of the Purple Heart, a badge of military merit, during the American Revolution in 1782 in Newburgh.
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