Hillsdale resident and WWII Veteran Ernest "Ernie" Santoro celebrates 100 years 

The Hillsdale community  honored Santoro with a large vehicle parade at his house on Henich Lane by  blowing their horns, sirens and waving the American Flag. The celebration included Hillsdale Fire Department, Community Rescue Squad, NY State Police, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Columbia County Veteran's Service Agency, Hillsdale Highway Department and dozens of vehicles decked out with flags and Happy Birthday signs. In addition, there was a local horse draped with an American Flag along with a procession of numerous dogs. Marty Smith played "Happy Birthday" and a selection of patriotic songs on his trumpet. Santoro received a surprise visit from another century old veteran, Edwin Odegard of Chatham. A proclamation was presented and read in Santoro's honor by Hillsdale Town Supervisor Christian Kersten, declaring July 5, 2022 as "Ernie Santoro Day."

Santoro was born July 5, 1922 in Mamaroneck, NY. He enlisted in the US Army and served in the Army's 1st Calvary Division, 12 Regiment Troop 6, as a scout and horse-mounted rifleman in the Pacific Theater. Santoro saw combat across the Asian Archipelago, New Guinea, and the southern Philippines, and the Battle of Luzon, the deadliest in the Southwest Pacific, where he was seriously wounded on Feb. 23, 1945. After six months of hospital recuperation, Santoro returned to the United States and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Philippines Liberation Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart.