National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

Just wanted to share that we had a wonderful visit from our Albany area Veterans group on Tuesday. We are glad we had the opportunity to meet you and have you visit the Hall! Come back any time!

MEMORIAL DAY 2021 Today is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be observed. The day itself began at end of the Civil War and the quotation below comes from a poem written just after the American Civil War. The Victorian era sentiment of the poem is as applicable now as it was in 1865.

HAPPY 246th BIRTHDAY: UNITED STATES ARMY The Continental Congress approves the formation of an Army. What began as a small force of Light Infantry has become perhaps the most powerful Army in the world. It has served this nation across four centuries of our history. Our Purple Heart history is represented in three of those four centuries: John Andrews, Civil War; Henry Johnson, World War I; Lee Chin, World War II; John C. Tessaro, Korea; Elmer Blackbird, Vietnam; Sharon A. Lane, Vietnam; Adriel Gonzalez, Operation Enduring Freedom and Anthony M. Reid, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Memorial Day (Traditional) The origins of Memorial Day go back to the Civil War era. After the War ended, there were local observances to decorate the graves of those who had fallen during the conflict. In 1868, John A. Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a day to recognize all those who fell in defense of the Nation. Here is his order calling for this national observance: Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic, Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868. GENE...Continue reading

KOREA 70 YEARS AGO TODAY: 8 June 1951 Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Alfred D. Trombly’s actions result in his being the Navy Cross. Below is the citation for his Navy Cross: :... The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Alfred D. Trombly United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Corpsman with a Marine Company of the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 8 June 1951. Serving as a Medical Corpsman, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Trombly advanced with his company into enemy terrain when the unit was subjected to an intense barrage of enemy mortar and artillery fire, causing numerous casualties. Courageously and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he refused to take cover from the vicious hail of bursting shells and shrapnel, and despite a serious wound in the leg, crawled from fallen man to fallen man, coolly administering first aid. When the enemy fire increased in intensity, he threw himself over two wounded comrades, using his own body as a shield to protect them. He was again seriously wounded in the back by shrapnel, but despite the excruciating pain of his wounds, he continued fearlessly to administer aid to the wounded, refusing aid for himself until all other casualties had been properly cared for. Hospital Corpsman Third Class Trombly's display of outstanding courage and devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. See more

We observe Memorial weekend to honor all who have lost their lives in service to our Country. The men and women below represent all their brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We were happy to have had a visit from Vet2Vet at the Hall of Honor. A great way to begin the Memorial Day weekend

WORLD WAR II: THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY ENDS: 7 JUNE, 1942 The Japanese attack on Midway was known in advance as American cryptanalysts had broken the Japanese code. Japan was the leader in naval aviation at the time, but the luck, skill and tenacity of the Americans dealt the Japanese a serious defeat. They lost four aircraft carriers during the battle, to one American carrier (The Yorktown). Admiral Yamamoto had predicted he could guarantee Japan 6-9 months before America woul...d strike back. The battle of Midway ended six months to the day after Pearl Harbor. Among the Americans who made history during that battle were: Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Richard M. Hansen, MIA; Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Rollin V. Schwirtz WIA; Sergeant James Via, MIA; Lt. (j.g) Robert S. Whitman, KIA; and Chief Pharmacist’s Mate James E. Wilson, WIA. See more

89 YEARS AGO TODAY: TEMPLE HILL DAY: MAY 28, 1932: To celebrate the Bicentennial year of George Washington’s birth, a committee of local WWI veterans and local historians organized a Purple Heart award ceremony to honor local veterans of the Great War. The goals were to honor our local veterans with what was then this new award created on February 22, 1932; commemorate George Washington and preserve Temple Hill. Ultimately, 136 local veterans of World War I were awarded thei...r Purple Hearts here on Temple Hill, now the site of both the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor & the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic site. There was great community support, and approximately 6,000 people came to see these veterans honored with this ceremony. The Hall of Honor is a New York State facility that continues the tradition of honoring Purple Heart recipients as we collect, preserve and share the stories of recipients not just locally, but from all across the nation. The three soldiers seen pictured here with their Purple Hearts were among those awarded the Purple Heart on Temple Hill Day. Their medals and stories are on display here at the Hall of Honor’s Temple Hill Day exhibit. See more

WORLD WAR II: 77 YEARS AGO TODAY: JUNE 6, 1944: D-DAY, THE INVASION OF NORMANDY Beginning with paratroop landings the night of June 5-6, the Allies invaded France for the opening of the second front, attacking Germany from the North as well as the South (Italy). Over 250,000 Allied personnel were part of the invasion, each with their own stories. Here is one story from what has been called The Longest Day. First Lieutenant Louis R. Emerson Jr. 83rd Troop Carrier Squadron, ...437th Troop Carrier Group, Wounded in Action 1st Lt. Emerson was the pilot of a C47 towing a Waco CG4a glider that held 13 troops. The glider cut loose and Lt. Emerson was ready to fly back to England when his plane was hit by ground fire, stopping both of his engines and causing the aircraft to catch on fire. As he crash-landed, he dragged the right wing on the ground to spin the plane around to crash between two trees in order to slow down the plane. During the crash, the wall behind the pilot and co-pilot collapsed, fracturing Lt. Emerson’s ribs on his left side and causing a compound fracture to the co-pilot’s left arm. The other three crewmen were uninjured. They all left the plane and took cover in a ditch,but were pinned down by a German machine gun. After dark, they began to find their way to Utah Beach, using the compass Lt. Emerson had fortunately brought with him on the flight. They had to open the gates between all the farm fields as their injuries prevented them from climbing over the walls. This was nerve wracking process as they feared the gates had been booby trapped. They eventually ran into a group of American paratroopers and Lt. Emerson took a weapon and ammo from a dead paratrooper and they then hiked toward Utah beach until they obtained a captured jeep. They then drove to the beach, found an Aid Station, where each was given a can of pork and beans, coffee, and four cigarettes. From there they were evacuated to England for treatment.

79 YEARS AGO TODAY: 3 June 1942 World War II Sergeant Glenn C. Talley, U.S. Army Sgt. Glenn Talley of A Company, 151st Engineer Regiment was Wounded in Action in Alaska during the Battle of the Aleutian Islands suffering several fractures of the hand and leg. Sgt. Talley is pictured, trussed up in a traction frame at Barnes General Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. He is visited by an Army Doctor and three visiting VIP’s who sign his cast. From right to left, Actors Joan Leslie, Adolphe Menjou, and Walter Pidgeon. Sgt. Talley is a featured recipient in the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor’s exhibits.

We were pleased recently to provide the venue for the enlistment of a new member of the 105th Airlift Wing.