This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

The new TZ bridge

 Rockland County Legislators John Murphy and Christopher Carey have sponsored a resolution in support of naming the new Tappan Zee Bridge  "The Purple Heart Veterans' Memorial Bridge" to honor military personnel killed or wounded in battle.

Local recipients of the Purple Heart, the military's oldest service award, approached Legislators Murphy and Carey to enlist their assistance to request the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo to approve naming the new structure to honor recipients of the Purple Heart. 

The initiative to name the bridge in honor of the award is a fitting tribute to the recipients, to the history of the award and the region's ties to military activities, said Murphy.  "The Purple Heart was commissioned by General George Washington at his Revolutionary War Headquarters in Newburgh at a time when soldiers of the Continental Army were defending the region from attacks by the British Army and Navy.  During World War II, 1.3 million soldiers left Camp Shanks and sailed from the Piermont Pier to fight the war in Europe.  In both cases, our military successfully defended our right to freedom, but brave soldiers were lost or suffered wounds of war.  The bridge spans a river that played a strategic part in our legacy of freedom and it should be named in honor of those who foughtsacrificed to defend that legacy."

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Legislator Carey added that other elected officials in the region have endorsed the name, as well as a separate proposal to name the bridge "The Veterans' Memorial Bridge".  Carey said, "I am sure our Veteran Groups will come together to decide upon and support a common proposal.  Legislator Murphy and I are calling upon our State leaders to memorialize the bravery and sacrifice of generations of our military heroes."


Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?