Yorktown Marks Purple Heart Designation with New Signs
It took U.S. Army veteran Eugene Lang 44 years after he was wounded in combat in Vietnam to receive a Purple Heart.
Many of those emotions associated with his time in service came flooding back for Lang last Wednesday at the unveiling of a sign in the downtown business district of Yorktown declaring Yorktown a Purple Heart Town, a distinction the town actually received three years ago.
“Today is a reaffirmation of how proud I am to be a Yorktowner,” said Neil Gross, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant/colonel who also has a Purple Heart. “When kids come by and see that sign they might think to ask what a Purple Heart is.”
Lang, a Yorktown resident, has been steadfastly urging municipalities to approve necessary resolutions to receive the Purple Heart proclamation. To date, 21 towns and cities in Westchester have signed on, with the Town of Cortlandt being the first. In Putnam, Lang noted all six towns enthusiastically jumped on board within two months.
Yorktown Councilman Vishnu Patel, proud father of two West Point graduates, helped spearhead the effort in Yorktown.
“What matters in life is the integrity, compassion and sacrifice made by those who gave the ultimate sacrifice or those who were wounded serving to keep our freedoms alive,” Patel said.
State Senator Terrence Murphy (R/Yorktown), Supervisor Michael Grace and Councilman Tom Diana all said the installation of the two signs (the other being on Route 6 near the Taconic State Parkway ramp) should have occurred a while ago.
“Any day you honor a veteran is a great day in America,” Murphy said.
Diana said the town will soon be setting aside some parking spots at town buildings, such as Town Hall and the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center, that will be reserved for combat wounded veterans.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
