The event has been held for a decade.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of American flags are swaying in Park Square to honor those who served the country.
The Park of Honor had its opening ceremony on Saturday. In the Kiwanis Club of Pittsfield's annual fundraiser, flags are purchased in honor of local veterans to raise money for scholarships that support children and grandchildren of veterans.
President Curtis Janey pointed out that the park was not completely full of flags this year but wants to have it packed for the event's 10th anniversary next year. More than 400 were sold, covering about half of the park.
"Sometimes things change with the economy and with COVID but that doesn't stop us from honoring our veterans," he said.
City Council President Peter Marchetti said he has seen the full circle of this event, attending the opening ceremony and then the award ceremonies where students receive the funds.
"I think most importantly, we're here on another day to honor veterans and I feel uncomfortable sometimes when I say that, because you say Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day now Park of Honor, but shouldn't we be honoring veterans every day?" he said.
"They provided us with the freedom that we have, some of them have left their lives to provide us with that freedom and so any chance that we can get to honor veterans we should be doing so and not just on a special day but every day."
Air Force veteran Robert "Bobby" Dassat, who was honored as the Berkshire Veterans Coalition 2021 Veteran of the Year, spoke at the ceremony.
Dassat enlisted in 1964 after a few years of working for General Electric. One year later, with completed training as a jet engine mechanic, he sustained serious injuries and had to have his left hand amputated at the age of 22 after a tire exploded off a helicopter.
"Our world is in a precarious situation, as we are well aware. However, a true education is a strong and healthy start to work out the many problems we face on our planet," Dassat said.
"It is you folks that contribute that helps mitigate the problems of the world just like being here shows you care."
He added that seeing these flags bring back memories of his father, who is honored annually in the park.
Real Gadoury, former president of the Pittsfield Kiwanis when the Park of Honor started, highlighted that the event was created to honor veterans, give scholarships to kids, and make the park look beautiful.
He explained that this event sparked a number of other communities to adopt a similar one.
"We have one in Westfield one in Springfield, one in Colorado, one in Florida," Gadoury said.
"We have all over the place people, they were asking us how we started the park just because of the one we did in Pittsfield."
A small table set for one stood at the front of the ceremony. It symbolized the fact that members of the armed forces — POWs and MIAs — are missing from the ranks.
