County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today honored four Albany County veterans for their service and lasting impact on the community. Three of the veterans served in WWII and one served in Vietnam.
Those acknowledged include:
- Sol Greenberg, who served in the US Navy and Navy Reserve for 28 years. He is a decorated veteran and former Albany County District Attorney. Greenberg served seven terms as district attorney.
- Peter Pryor, who joined the US Army at age 15 and served four and a half years. He was a member of the US Army’s 675th Ordnance Ammunition Company, which took him to many military bases during World War II. His company also traveled through Europe and stayed on for some time after the fall of Berlin. In 1954 Pryor became the first African American to graduate from Albany Law School since 1871.
- Hank Landau, who served in the US Navy in the Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads, during which he and his crew documented the effects of nuclear detonation. He enlisted at age 16 in the Navy; and
- Joseph Bruno, of Selkirk, who served as an infantryman in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart medal for being wounded during his service in the war. He also ran hundreds of combat patrols during his time in Vietnam. Bruno is the Commander of the Bethlehem VFW Post 1315 and the owner of Joe’s Barber Shop in Delmar.
“Each of these veterans served with honor, pride and distinction and they deserve our thanks and recognition today and every day,” said McCoy. “It is our responsibility as a free nation to honor those who fought to preserve our freedoms and our way of life. These veterans risked their lives for their fellow American and for that we are deeply grateful.”
County Executive McCoy began the Albany County Veterans Award Program in November 2013 to recognize veterans who are still with us. To date, 13 Albany County Veterans have been honored under this program.
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Picture features (standing left to right): Legislator Peter Crouse, Legislator Mert Simpson, Majority Leader Frank Commisso, Former Congressman Mike McNulty, County Executive Daniel P. MCCoy, County Clerk, Bruce Hidley and seated are the honorees (l to r) Hank Landau, Sol Greenberg, Peter Pryor and Joe Bruno.