Piermont Veteran Turns 100

This Veterans' Day, one Piermont soldier is celebrating two accomplishments.

Long-time village resident Al Bristol served in WWII, fighting valiantly in the Pacific Theater. That, and Bristol turned 100 last weekend.

Bristol was born in Newark, NJ in 1911. He joined the National Guard in 1931—shortly after the start of the Great Depression—and became a machine gun operator with an infantry outfit. Bristol served in the Pacific during WWII, eventually attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

After the Allies' victory, Bristol returned home and wed his sweetheart Carolyn; the two celebrated their 70th anniversary this year.

After the War, the Bristols began their long relationship with Rockland. They moved to Orangeburg's Shanks Village in 1946 at the suggestion of relatives. Years later, they relocated to the second floor of what is now the Tappan Library. (Bristol was a trustee/president of the Tappan Library from 1963 until 1995.)

In his professional life, Bristol organized exhibitions for famed auction houses like Southeby's and Parke-Bernet. Over his 65 years in the business, Bristol rose to the rank of assistant vice president and worked alongside clients like Israel Sack, Bill Cosby and former President Jimmy Carter.

The Rockland Historical Society recently lauded Bristol's accomplishments with a .