Submitted by the Office of Senator Daphne Jordan
New York State Senator Daphne Jordan has announced Senate passage of her bipartisan legislation designating a portion of the state highway system as the Rensselaer County Purple Heart Highway to honor Rensselaer County and New York State’s Purple Heart Heroes. The measure passed during the May 25 Senate Session and has also passed the State Assembly.
Established in 1932, the Purple Heart is the oldest, and among the most venerated, military honors awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. Military. A recent estimate indicated that there are almost 3,000 living Purple Heart recipients in New York State. In honor of these heroes, Senator Jordan’s legislation renames State Route 43, which begins at the border of Massachusetts just east of Stephentown and ends at the intersection with 1-90 in North Greenbush, as the Rensselaer County Purple Heart Highway.
Each of the four towns along Route 43 have passed resolutions becoming Purple Heart Towns and Senator Jordan’s bill will enhance the honor and respect that Rensselaer County, and New York State, shows to Purple Heart Veterans, as well as those killed in action. Within Senator Jordan’s district, all 60 towns, villages and cities are now Purple Heart Communities, and all four counties have successfully passed local resolutions to become Purple Heart Counties.