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Community Corner

Purple Heart County Ceremony

Legislator Ed Day presented a special proclamation to members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 120, that declared Rockland County to be a "Purple Heart County". Members of that chapter had requested that Legislator Day carry the legislation that was unanimously passed by the County legislature on June 4th.

General George Washington originally created the Purple Heart as the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 at his Orange County, NY headquarters in Newburgh. The medal was reissued in 1932 as the Purple Heart at the request of General Douglas MacArthur.  It is the oldest U.S. Military decoration in present use and is issued in the name of the President of the United States to members of the U.S. Armed Services wounded or killed in action while engaged in combat with an enemy force.

During the ceremony, attended by a number of Purple Heart recipients, friends, and families, Legislator Day said “To put oneself in the line of fire and suffering injury or death, epitomizes the ultimate commitment to the defense of the liberty we all enjoy today. The very least we can do is recognize the unselfish gallantry and bravery of those true warriors.”
Also in attendance was State Senator William Larkin; County Legislator Doug Jobson; Clarkstown Councilman George Hoehmann, and County Veterans Services Director and Purple Heart recipient Jerry Donnellan.


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