After years of bipartisan advocacy, Capital Region lawmakers Assemblyman Scott Bendett (R,C-Sand Lake), Sen. Jake Ashby (R,C-Castleton), and Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh (D-Cohoes) are pleased to announce that the governor has signed their bipartisan legislation designating New York as an official Purple Heart state into law.

The law creates new opportunities to formally and collectively express our gratitude for courageous Purple Heart recipients, including additions to the Purple Heart Trail and new partnerships with New York’s own National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

“My appreciation for the armed forces goes all the way back to my childhood, having grown up with multiple veterans in my family who helped shape who I am today. My grandfather, Julius Bendett, was wounded in combat during World War II and awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifice. Despite being shot in battle, he wasn’t sent home, instead, he was transferred to Paris, France, where he learned to make false teeth, a skill that later became his lifelong career. After years of tireless advocacy from my office, Senator Ashby, and Assemblyman McDonald, I’m proud that we have come together to support making New York a Purple Heart State, because if there’s one thing, we should all agree on, it’s that our men and women in uniform deserve the utmost respect for protecting the country we call home,” said Assemblyman Bendett.

“Particularly ahead of Veterans Day, this is really meaningful. I am grateful for Assemblymember McDonald and Assemblyman Bendett building the bipartisan coalition that propelled this legislation across the finish line in the Assembly, and I appreciate the governor’s support and signature,” said Ashby.

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "I was proud to sponsor this legislation designating New York as a Purple Heart State so that we, as New Yorkers, can collectively express our gratitude to the approximately 1.8 million Purple Heart recipients nationwide for their sacrifice and courage. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this important bill into law and for her continued support of our Veterans.” 

New York has a rich Purple Heart history, including the first woman awarded the honor (WWI Veteran Beatrice Mary MacDonald of the Army Nurse Corps) and the first U.S. soldier and Purple Heart recipient awarded the Croix de guerre (the Capital Region’s own Medal of Honor awardee Henry Johnson).

New York State is the home of The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, the nation’s preeminent monument to and comprehensive registry of recipients throughout American history. It is situated on the grounds of the last encampment of the Continental Army.