Mount Saint Mary College will host the “Concert for America’s Heroes,” a patriotic tribute celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States and saluting Purple Heart recipients, on Thursday, April 30.
The concert, performed by the MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Jason Tramm, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Aquinas Hall Theatre. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Mount Saint Mary College is located at 330 Powell Ave., Newburgh, N.Y.
Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online by visiting the National Purple Heart Honor Mission website. For information regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact development@purpleheartmission.org
This patriotic performance serves as the capstone event for this year’s Purple Heart Patriot Project. Organized by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, the project brings combat-wounded veterans from every state to the historic Hudson Valley region.
“Across America, people are gathering together to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our great nation,” said Col. Russell Vernon (Ret.), Executive Director of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “It’s only fitting that as we mark this historic milestone, we pay tribute to the brave men and women whose service and sacrifice has helped keep us free. These Patriot Project missions recognize the sacrifices made by our Purple Heart recipients, and this concert will be a moving tribute to our heroes and those who never made it home.”
Tramm, who will conduct the MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra, noted that the performance aims to honor the enduring remembrance of veterans.
“Through music, we have the privilege of expressing what words alone cannot fully convey – our gratitude, our respect, and our enduring remembrance,” he said.
The 2026 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission honorees include veterans selected for their courage and service both in combat and within their communities. Among those being recognized are:
- Marine Corps Major James Capers Jr., the first African American to command a Marine Recon company and the first enlisted African American Marine Officer to receive a battlefield commission.
- U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Thomas “Stormy” Matteo, a six-time Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam.
- U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Steve Woelk, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who was wounded during the capture of the U.S.S. Pueblo and spent 11 months as a Prisoner of War.
“Newburgh is the birthplace of what became the modern-day Purple Heart, so it’s particularly poignant to offer this America 250 tribute at a time when so many of our heroes are gathered in our community,” said Dan Clarino, National Purple Heart Honor Mission Board Vice Chairman and two-time Purple Heart recipient. “The Hudson Valley is deeply patriotic, and I know our community will come together as we always do to give our heroes a warm welcome home.”