Mourning the death of James R. Peluso, Vietnam War veteran, and devoted member of his family and community

Assembly Resolution No. 1193

BY: M. of A. Woerner

        MOURNING the death of James R. Peluso, Vietnam War
        veteran,  and  devoted  member  of  his  family  and
        community

  WHEREAS, With feelings of deep regret, this Legislative Boy  records
the passing of James R. Peluso who died on Monday, February 16, 2026, at
the age of 76; and

  WHEREAS,  A  combat Vietnam veteran, James "Jim" R. Peluso dedicated
his life to supporting fellow veterans, serving his community, and being
a devoted family man; and

  WHEREAS, Jim Peluso, who was born on August 13, 1949, the oldest  of
nine children, and the son of the late Rocco and Jane (Swatling) Peluso,
grew up and lived his entire life in Mechanicville, New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  his  high  school  graduation  in  1967,  Jim Peluso
volunteered for U.S. Army and Airborne  training,  then  proudly  served
with  Company  A  of the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, known as
the "Iron Rangers,"  of  the  1st  Infantry  Division  in  Vietnam  from
1968-1969; and

  WHEREAS, Wounded in action in 1968 and again in 1969, Jim Peluso was
awarded  the  Purple  Heart  with Oak Leaf Cluster as well as the Combat
Infantryman Badge,  Parachutist  Badge,  Expert  Rifle  Badge,  National
Defense  Medal,  Vietnam  Service  Medal,  Vietnam  Campaign Medal, Good
Conduct Medal, and New York State Conspicuous Service Cross; and

  WHEREAS, Following his return from Vietnam, Jim  Peluso  met  Susan,
his  wife  of  51  years;  together,  they  had  four  children  and  10
grandchildren; and

  WHEREAS, A graduate  of  Hudson  Valley  Community  College  (A.S.),
Marist  College  (B.S.)  and  SUNY  Rockefeller  institute of Government
(M.S.), Jim Peluso was appointed by the Governor of New York to serve as
State Director of the New York State Department of Veterans Affairs, and
later served as Program Manager for  the  U.S.  Department  of  Veterans
Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans program; and

  WHEREAS,  After retirement, Jim Peluso was recruited to serve as the
New York State Director of Operations for Soldier On; he also served  as
National   Vice   President   and  Legislative  Chair  of  the  National
Association of State Directors  of  Veterans  Affairs,  as  well  as  on
President  Clinton's Veterans Roundtable, and as State Legislative Chair
and Board Member of the New York State Council for Vietnam  Veterans  of
America; and

  WHEREAS,  A  life  member of the Disabled American Veterans Military
Order of the Purple Heart and the  Tri-County  Council  of  Vietnam  Era
Veterans,  Jim  Peluso  was  a  staunch  advocate for veterans and their
families for over 40 years; and

  WHEREAS, In his hometown, Jim Peluso continued to dedicate his  time
to  veterans  causes  and  to  ensuring  their  remembrance  through the
rededication of Patenaude Park and the Veterans Bridge; he also assisted
in raising funds for  the  placement  of  a  monument  to  Mechanicville
veterans at the Saratoga National Cemetery; and

  WHEREAS,  A  truly  dedicated man of service, Jim Peluso volunteered
his time to serve two terms as City Council Commissioner of Finance,  as
Chair  of  the  City Civil Service Commissioner, and as President of the
Mechanicville Community Center for 10  years,  among  many  other  local
organizations  and posts; his further involvements included The American
Legion Post No. 91, the Elks Club, and his time as Grand Knight  of  the
Mechanicville Council Knights of Columbus; and

  WHEREAS,  Jim  Peluso,  despite his myriad involvements, still found
time to coach Little League baseball, become a  New  York  State  Hunter
Safety Instructor, and hold membership at the Schroon Lake Fish and Game
Club and the Stillwater Rod and Gun Clubs; and

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State of New York whose life work and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn  the death of James R. Peluso, who left behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a  comforting  memory
to all he served and befriended; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of James R. Peluso.