New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblyman Matt Slater announced today that a portion of State Route 35 in Westchester County has officially been designated as the “Purple Heart Highway” in honor of the county’s Purple Heart recipients.
The announcement was made at a special ceremony for the unveiling of a new sign for the Purple Heart Highway. To see a video of the ceremony, click here.
The designation of the new Purple Heart Highway was made possible through legislation (S.6930B / A.8237) sponsored by Harckham and Slater. Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul last year, the legislation amends the state’s Highway Law to designate the section of Route 35 beginning at its intersection with State Route 202 and extending eastward to its intersection with State Route 100 as the “Purple Heart Highway” dedicated to Westchester’s Purple Heart medal recipients.
This stretch of the Route 35 roadway was chosen for its proximity to Lasdon Public Gardens (LPG) and Veterans Memorial, home of the Trail of Honor, making it a fitting location to pay tribute to the brave service members who were wounded or killed in combat while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Eugene Lang, a Somers resident, Purple Heart recipient, and member of Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 21, said, “I would like to thank Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblyman Matt Slater for their persistence in getting this legislation signed into law. Members of Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 21 will be honored to see a portion of Route 35 named in recognition of the brave men and women who have received the Purple Heart.”
The strong advocacy from Lang and the members of Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 21 in Yorktown Heights for the Purple Heart Highway designation was a chief factor in moving the initiative forward, the two state lawmakers said.
