PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Department of Veterans' Services is looking for volunteers to assist with placing flags and markers at Veterans' gravesites.
The installation of flags will occur between May 6 to May 11, 2024.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable, appropriate apparel and shoes, walking will be required throughout the cemeteries to place these flags. Instructions, flags, and markers will be provided, as well as soft refreshments and snacks.
If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact the Veterans' Services Department at (413) 499-9433 to sign up as a volunteer or email veterans@cityofpittsfield.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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WWII Veteran Reflects on D-Day at VFW Post Induction
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
The members in the picture are Bret Miller, Coast Guard, Desert Storm; Hank Morris, Army, Vietnam; Brad Havill, Navy, Global War on Terror; VFW Post 448 Vice Cmdr. Mark Pompi, Army, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan; Post Cmdr. Arnold Perras, Korea; Joe Difillipo, Army, Vietnam; Teri Billington, Navy, Desert Storm; and Carmen Ostrander, Air Force, Afghanistan.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army.
But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago.
"One of the most horrible things was in Normandy. We went shortly after D-Day. I got lucky, very lucky on D-Day. We went to a staging area the night before … and at the very end, somebody called, I was in headquarters, they called all the headquarters personnel at the center," the 103-year-old said. "We did not go. There's about 30 of us. The rest of the battalion was gone, and the reason for that was because there was another battalion coming from the States, and they had no headquarters.
"We stayed back, but we did go to Normandy shortly after that, and when we went to Normandy, it was all over."
Salatino was attending an induction ceremony on Thursday at the Lt. John N. Truden VFW Post 448. Joseph Texidor, who served in the Army for 17 years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sworn in as the post's newest member.
Salatino served in the Medical Corps and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran wounded at Verdun. Salatino was in the Army for about three years.
"The whole memory is what I just told you, very, very alive to me," he said. "That is, I can never forget, never forget that."
D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the start of Operation Overlord, and the largest invading force to cross the English Channel since 1066. Their goal: to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.
Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army.
But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago. click for more
Check out the events happening this weekend including free fishing this weekend courtesy of the state, First Fridays, carnival, and more.
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In 2017, the 120-year-old school ceased operations. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it sheltered people without homes before The Pearl, a 40-bed downtown shelter, was finished a few years ago.
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On the third day of budget hearings, the City Council passed all but its own budget, requesting that Mayor Peter Marchetti restore some funds to the education and training line. click for more
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