Badge of Military MeritNewburgh, NY (July 28, 2021) -- On August 7th and 8th, in honor of the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site is offering a take home craft kit to make your own Badge of Military Merit. General George Washington, while headquartered in Newburgh, created the Badge of Military Merit on August 7th, 1782. The Badge, the first award of its kind to honor enlisted personnel, evolved into the Purple Heart, an award given today to military personnel, officers and enlisted, wounded or killed in the defense of our country.

Take a guided tour of the Headquarters and explore the Museum filled with numerous artifacts. The take home craft kit is included with Museum admission. Reservations are required for house tours and weekends sell out quickly, so call to reserve your spot! Hours are: August 7th, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM and August 8th, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM.

For more information, call 845-562-1195.

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Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site is a registered National Historic Landmark. It is located at the corner of Liberty and Washington Streets within the city of Newburgh’s East End Historic District. The site is one of 35 historic sites within the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is one of 28 facilities administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in New York and New Jersey. For further information contact: (845) 562-1195.  For more information about New York State Parks, please visit our website at www.nysparks.com.   For more information call 845-562-1195 or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/washingtonsheadquarters.

The Palisades Parks Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Palisades Interstate Park system.  Partnering with PIPC, we protect the PIP’s natural and historic resources by raising funds, increasing public awareness and supporting visitor education.  

Palisades Parks Conservancy’s mission is to preserve the Palisades Interstate Park’s rich history and biodiversity, and protect America’s first bi-state park system. The Conservancy is committed to supporting parks where all visitors can play, connect, and immerse themselves in nature and culture.

Palisades Parks Conservancy support of the Palisades’ historic sites, including Washington’s Headquarters, ensures education programs are available to the public, our history is preserved, and sites are visitor-ready. Partnering to restore the Tower of Victory at Washington’s Headquarters is one of our proudest moments. To learn about events and programs available within the Palisades Interstate Park system, visit us at https://www.palisadesparks.org/events. To make a gift to support our historic sites and parks, please visit us at https://www.palisadesparks.org/donate-1. 

Contact:

Elyse B. Goldberg | elyse.goldberg@parks.ny.gov | 845-562-1195