On August 7, the New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) hosted a ‘Purple Heart Day’ breakfast and ceremony at the Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bear Mountain Bridge (aka Bear Mountain Bridge). State officials honored nearly two dozen Purple Heart veterans, and two former elected leaders, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and the late Senator Bill Larkin, who together sponsored the legislation that added the ceremonial designation to the bridge name in 2018.

Workers at the bridge also had the opportunity to show off a small garden next to the bridge office in honor of Purple Heart veterans.

National Purple Heart Day commemorates the day when General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit while headquartered in Newburgh on August 7, 1782. This award later was revived as the Purple Heart in 1932, the bicentennial year of George Washington’s birth.

Over 1.9 million veterans have been awarded the Purple Heart due to either being killed or wounded in combat operations from World War I to the present.

In 2018, a bill was passed by the State Legislature and signed into law giving the Bear Mountain Bridge the ceremonial designation of “Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge”. The name was dedicated during a ceremony on November 12, 2018, when Veterans Day was observed that year.

“This year, as part of the bridge’s centennial celebrations, the NYSBA wanted to honor the bridge’s ceremonial name by hosting this event,” NYSBA Public Information Officer Chris Stever said. The event was sponsored by the non-profit Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley.

Over 20 Purple Heart veterans attended and were recognized for their service. They received framed prints of a Bear Mountain Bridge drawing done by the late artist John F. Gould, as well as a special Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bear Mountain Bridge hat created for the bridge centennial. Also honored were Galef and, on behalf of her late husband, Pat Larkin.

Speakers at the event included elected officials, as well as staff from the NYS Bridge Authority and the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services; a color guard was provided by the American Legion; and, from the West Point Band, Sergeant First Class Emily McAleesejergins, sang the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”

As well, a number of members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a veterans organization that advocated for the bridge name legislation, were in attendance and honored during among the Purple Heart veterans.

The NYSBA is in the midst of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Bear Mountain Bridge -- it was opened to the general public on November 27, 1924. Other upcoming events to celebrate the bridge include:

On Saturday, September 7, the Bridge Authority will team up with New York State Parks to present the next installment in their “Bridges to Parks” guided hike series, this time centered on the Bear Mountain Bridge and the nearby state parks that it connects. Multiple hike options for various interests and abilities will be offered. Interested participants can email bmb100@nysba.ny.gov to be put on the notification list for this event.

The Hudson Valley will be the host location for the 2024 edition of the International Cable Supported Bridge Operators Conference (ICSBOC), taking place from October 6 through 10, 2024, at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This highly technical conference will bring together engineers and bridge operators from around the world and will highlight the Bear Mountain Bridge during its centennial year.

And on Sunday, November 24, just days before the 100th anniversary of the bridge’s dedication and opening, NYSBA will host a ceremony to commemorate the bridge centennial. Details will be released at a later date.