Pleasantville's Ruiz Honored for Military Service

The veterans of Pleasantville have chosen to recognize Bert Ruiz as a candidate for the state's 2nd Annual Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

At Monday's Board of Trustees meeting in the village, New York State Senator Greg Ball (R, C — Patterson) and Eugene Parotta, chairman of Ball’s Veterans Advisory Council, stopped by to recognize Ruiz.

"For those of you who don't know Bert, he is the Commander of the Fancher Nicoll American Legion Post based here in Pleasantville, which has always been a strong post," said Mayor Peter Scherer. "But, probably doubled in strength over the last few years under Bert's leadership with an extraordinary bunch of veterans.."

Parotta said he visited the group of village veterans that meets weekly at Ashbourne Hall to solicit nominations for this year's Hall of Fame—created by Ball last year—and they recommended Ruiz. Parotta is last year's statewide Veterans Hall of Fame pick and a purple heart recipient.

"They decided that Bert Ruiz seems to be the perfect candidate," Parotta said.

Scherer said Ruiz has been an instrumental part of the village's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.

While Ruiz was out of town and not present at Monday's meeting, Scherer shared, "Bert is a son of Pleasantville who is happy to tell the story of coming back from the Vietnam War and tending bar at Foley's while he tried to figure out what to do and all kinds of Pleasantville people recognized in him the kind of leadership talents that have manifested themselves."

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