Schumer, Maloney announce National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act passes Senate; when signed into law, all proceeds will help Orange County-based National Purple Honor Mission to expand its national recognition programs, including creation of a new mobile tribute & education center

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney today announced that The National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act has passed the Senate and will now head back to the House for final confirmation before landing on the president's desk for signature. Schumer introduced the bipartisan legislation in the Senate jointly with Senator Kevin Cramer [R-ND] last Veteran's Day, following Rep. Maloney's championing of the bill in the House.

"The Purple Heart is the symbol of the bravery and profound physical and emotional sacrifice our service members pay for our freedom. 238 years after the very first Purple Heart was issued by George Washington here in New York, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor resides near the United States Military Academy and historic Hudson River, nestled in the neighboring New Windsor," said Senator Schumer. "While we honor our injured and fallen heroes each and every day, in the week after Veteran's Day, I am proud to announce the Senate passage of The National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act, which will support the organization's worthy mission of remembering all those soldiers who sacrificed so much to defend their nation. This legislation will create a fitting tribute to the men and women of our armed forces that have received Purple Hearts--for it was their perseverance and unceasing commitment that has made the United States the greatest country on earth."

"We've worked for years to pass our bill supporting the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Mission, and today we're one step closer to making it a reality. I thank Senator Schumer for his partnership on this bipartisan bill, and his assistance in passing the bill through the Senate with broad support," said Congressman Maloney. "This bill honors our Purple Heart veterans, bolsters the important work of the Hall and the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, and brings business to the West Point Mint right here in the Hudson Valley. We look forward to working with the White House to get this bill signed into law."

"Today is an historic day for America's combat wounded and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Senator Schumer, Congressman Maloney, and Senator Cramer deserve our sincere thanks for all their efforts to ensure passage of the Coin Act in the Senate and the House. The creation of an official U.S.-minted coin honoring our Purple Heart heroes will ensure our organization is able to continue to promote visitation to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, and fund other national tribute programing that will bring countless stories of valor to communities across America," said Richie Lay, Purple Heart recipient and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

"This commemorative coin is an extraordinary tribute to our heroes who have given so much to our nation. The coin will help our organization continue to expand its programming to ensure our combat-wounded and killed-in-action veterans are honored and remembered for generations to come. We thank Senators Schumer and Cramer, and Congressman Maloney for their steadfast commitment to the bill, and their work to drive bipartisan support for its passage," said Col. Russ Vernon (Ret.), Executive Director of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

"Bringing recognition to the Purple Heart Hall of Honor is an appropriate way to recognize those who have earned the great honor of the Purple Heart. All who served honorably made our nation greater and our world safer. Those who earned the Purple Heart suffered in ways others did not as part of their sacrifice. I look forward to people using these commemorative coins here in Orange County and across our nation," said Christian Farrell, Director of Orange County Veterans Service Agency.

Specifically, the legislation will require the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and 50¢ clad coins in 2022, commemorating our nation's Purple Heart recipients in honor of all -- those past and present--who have fought bravely to defend American freedom and been wounded or killed in action. All proceeds from the sale of the coins will contribute to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. Funds will help the organization augment their "Honor Flight style" Purple Heart Patriot Project program and create a new Mobile Tribute and Education Center that will visit communities across the nation bringing the story of the Purple Heart to a whole new generation of Americans. Schumer and Maloney said passage of the legislation is a fitting tribute to the roughly 1.8 million recipients of the Purple Heart who sacrificed so much for their country, especially the week after Veteran's Day.

Schumer and Maloney explained that the design of the coins minted under The National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act will embody the mandate of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission and its work to promote the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, which strives to "collect, preserve, and share the stories of Purple Heart recipients from all branches of service and across generations to ensure that all recipients are represented." Furthermore, the design will be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury, after discussion with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, located in New Windsor, NY pays tribute to all of the U.S. military service members who were wounded or killed in combat. The National Purple Heart Honor Mission conceived of the museum and has worked for more two decades to secure necessary funding for the museum. Today, the museum is run by the New York-New Jersey Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and is located a few miles north of where General George Washington awarded the very first Purple Heart, then called the Badge of Military Merit, in 1782.

The newly expanded Hall of Honor was reopened last week, after the completion of $17 million expansion. The project added 4,300 square feet of space and includes a new museum wing, improves visitor circulation, and provides a public gathering space. Galleries and exhibits were also upgraded to include state-of-the-art interactive technology to better tell the stories of and honor the servicemen and women who have received Purple Hearts.

The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which supports a variety of programs to promote the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, pay tribute to our Purple Heart recipients, and educate all Americans about our combat-wounded veterans to ensure those who sacrificed for freedom are never forgotten. Learn more about their efforts at www.PurpleHeartMission.org.

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