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Pittsfield Honors Veterans And The Oath They Took

Jim Levulis
/
WAMC
Pittsfield's Veterans Day ceremony was moved inside City Hall due to steady rain.

Pittsfield’s Veterans Day Parade was cancelled because of a steady rain throughout the morning, but the city still came together to honor current and former members of the armed forces today.“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

November 11th is set aside as a time to honor the men and women throughout history who have taken that oath, read by Bernard Avalle, who served in the Coast Guard. Avalle spoke during Pittsfield’s Veterans Day ceremony, moved inside City Hall Wednesday morning. It is typically held at the Pittsfield Veterans Memorial off South Street after the parade. Area veteran organizations, Boy Scout troops and the community at large were represented. Fran Tremblay of the Berkshire Veterans Coalition served as master of ceremonies. He shared a poem called “What Is A Veteran?”

“For many the battles would never end,” Tremblay read. “Now they’re civilians and find they can’t blend. Some are disabled. Some are disturbed. After coming from hell, they find they’ve been curbed.”

Avalle shared what he says it means to be a veteran, harkening back to the military oath.

“It is a complex and yet simple mindset,” Avalle said. “It begins with a simple oath. An oath that binds and galvanizes the heart, mind and soul into a single purpose. A solemn, intimate vow deeply felt and sacredly held.”

Avalle said the oath is taken for life and extends beyond enlistment dates. That statement is personified by Tyrone Belanger — named Veteran of the Year by the Berkshire Veterans Coalition at the ceremony. The Marine served a tour of duty in Vietnam and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 37 years. Belanger belongs to six veteran organizations and is currently vice president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 65. Belanger visits veterans in multiple nursing homes each week to hear their stories and has conducted more than 35 interviews for the Veterans History Project.

“But it’s a healing process for me too,” Belanger said. “All the things that I do – it helps me. Every time I go to a nursing home or do anything it helps me out. I’m going all the time, but it’s a fun thing to do.”

Veterans in attendance were urged to share their stories with the Library of Congress project through Pittsfield Community Television. Mayor Dan Bianchi also thanked those who have served in the armed forces.

“I would encourage all of us to begin and end each day with a peaceful reflection and a prayer for all the young men and women serving today around the world and for all of their loved ones who display that blue flag in their windows, on their bumpers, lapels and their hearts. And especially for those who carry the gold star in their heart.”

A Veterans Expo is being held at the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield Thursday from 9 to noon featuring job, education and healthcare opportunities for current and former military personnel and their families.

“Now is the time to honor our vets,” Tremblay read. “Remember their pain. Don’t ever forget. Remember them now and give them their due. Stand by their side, because they did it for you.”

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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