Catholic Veteran and Retired NYPD Detective Celebrated With Drive-By 100th Birthday Party

Tags: Currents Brooklyn, NY, Crux, Faith, NYPD, Queens, NY, Veteran, World War II

By Emily Drooby

Patriotic sounds rang out on a Williamsburg, Brooklyn street Wednesday afternoon as a drive-by 100th birthday party was held for Joseph A. SanPietro. On Feb. 17, friends and family celebrated a man who spent his life serving others as an army sergeant and police detective.

The Catholic veteran stood on his porch, watching the parade thrown in his honor. He was filled with emotion by the beautiful gesture.

“I feel like General McArthur,” he told Currents News.

The 100th birthday extravaganza was organized by the Catholic War Veterans Williamsburg Post, where Joseph is one of their members.

“It’s a big thing,” said fellow member Vincent Patuto. “Not many people, especially in this day and age, live to be 100 years old.”

It’s been 100 incredible years. Joseph spent four of them in the Army, where he was a sergeant and served during World War 2 in Okinawa, the site of one of the bloodiest battles in history.

Once he got back to the U.S., he joined the NYPD. He spent 20 years protecting city residents. He’s even the officer in the famous arrest photo of alleged crime boss, Joseph Colombo.

Joseph’s fellow post members put together a record of his accomplishments, and a proclamation from the Brooklyn Borough President. They gave him both during the party.

The drive-by was a fitting celebration for someone who gave so much for both his country and his city.