Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo’s Office
“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to present Butch with this plaque and to thank him for his years of service to our country,” Sen. Addabbo said.
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) last Wednesday—Veterans Day—honored the life and sacrifices of an area veteran by inducting him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo’s Office
“It is a great feeling to be able to give back to our veterans, and this induction into the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame for Butch is one small way that I can help honor a great soldier, especially on Veterans Day,” the senator added.
Addabbo presented Ermondo “Butch” Puccio — a 99-year-old Queens native — with the honor for serving in World War II.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to present Butch with this plaque and to thank him for his years of service to our country,” said Addabbo, a member of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. “There are not too many of our World War II veterans left, so it meant a lot to recognize Ermondo for his service time during the world’s greatest conflict.”
File Photo
For decades, Butch and his wife Jennie have been fixtures at every Memorial Day and Veterans Day event in Howard Beach.
Puccio was born on April 15, 1921, in Queens, and at the age of 21 he enlisted as a private in the United States Army and completed his basic training at Camp Davis in North Carolina. Before being deployed to California in 1943, Puccio married his wife Jennie, and on August 28, 2020, they celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.
During his years in service, Puccio spent time in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. While in combat, a .50 caliber machine gun fell on Puccio, injuring him. In January 1946, Puccio returned to the United States, and on February 2, 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Army, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.
File Photo
In May, a pandemic parade of nearly 50 cars slowly rolled past a beaming Butch, who was surrounded by family, as he sat in front of his Shore Parkway home in his Army uniform, reciprocating salutes.
“Our veterans give up so much, including time at home with their families, while some make the ultimate sacrifice and lay down their lives for our country,” Addabbo concluded. “It is a great feeling to be able to give back to our veterans, and this induction into the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame for Butch is one small way that I can help honor a great soldier, especially on Veterans Day.”
