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Veterans Day Ceremonies Recall Sacrifice, Give Thanks

	Rabbi Josh Breindel, left, was this year's speaker at Veterans Day ceremonies in Pittsfield. He reflected on his experience consoling a soldier whose unit had been attacked while he was away. More photos here.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — While studying pastoral care at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Rabbi Josh Breindel received a late night call from a patient asking to speak with him.

When Breindel arrived, he was struck that the patient seemed to be healthy and wondered why the man called for him.

"He was strong, in shape but he was obviously troubled. He told me that he was a soldier and he had been sent home for heart trouble and he was currently being evaluated as to whether he would be allowed to return to combat," Breindel said at Monday at the Veterans Day ceremony. "He had just received word that his unit had come under fire earlier that day. And that was all he knew. He had no idea where his friends were or what had become of them. And his next words rocked me.

"I can hear his voice. He said to me, 'Rabbi this is most difficult thing that I've ever done. To be here safe and sound with you while my buddies are out there. I should be with them.'"

Breindel sat and prayed with the man. That interaction shaped him as a rabbi, and it was in that man's anguish he first saw the bond between soldiers.

"His heart was sick, he told me, because his friends needed him and he couldn't be with them," he said. "Never before had I met a person who had been in such a position. This man's soul was moved not for thought of his own safety or his own comfort but our of concern for his partners, his teammates, for his friends."

That man showed Breindel a sense of loyalty and love for something greater than ones own self. It is with that loyalty from "the most profound place in the heart" in which veterans "fully give" themselves to defend the "highest ideals" of American life. He brought a simple message to the podium at the Veterans Day ceremony - "thank you" to the veterans and those who pay tribute to them.

"May we commit ourselves to never take their service for granted," Breindel said. "You have brought blessing to us all."

Mayor Daniel Bianchi extended his thanks to veterans as well, as the city took time to reflect and honor the thousands from the city who fought for the country.

"All of them left young but many of the returned much older. They were much older than their years and they were older because of what they saw," Bianchi said. "Your bravery and commitment ensured that our families could live safely in a  democracy. I hope you will be forever proud for helping to make our world a safer and better place."

In the future, Bianchi hopes that another mayor can address a similar crowd like the hundreds who gathered Monday and celebrate decades of peace.

Monday's ceremony included a parade from City Hall to the war monument on South Street. There veterans groups laid wreaths on the memorial. The Pittsfield High School band played taps and patriotic music. Henry Morris was honored by the Pittsfield Veterans Coalition as the veteran of the year for his activity with veterans groups.

In North Adams, ceremonies were held at the Veterans Memorial after a parade from the American Legion with veterans, dignitaries, participants in the "Up Front for DeMar" race honoring Spc. Michael DeMarsico, the city's first war casualty since Vietnam, and the Drury High School band.  

Standing at attention above are Bruce Shepley, left, Teresa Culpepper Rysz, Mayor Richard Alcombright, Sen. Benjamin Downing and Rep. Gailanne Cariddi. Right, Rysz, an Air Force veteran, was the main speaker. See more photos here.

"As American citizens, we may not agree or approve of  our government's decisions but we should always support our troops, we should always respect them," said Rysz.

Also speaking were Mayor Richard Alcombright, state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing and state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi.

The mayor said the nation's veterans had contributed to its character.

"These men and women didn't ask to leave their homes to serve but rather were called to be a part of something bigger than themselves," he said. "Veterans are ordinary people who over many years and over many wars have responded in extraordinary ways ... They rose to the nation's call because they wanted to protect the nation which has given them so much."

Cariddi said ceremonies such as this brings tears to her eyes, remembering her classmates and the people she grew up with who had gone of to war and the tragedies they'd seen. "We need to thank them more."

The grandson of a World War II and Korean War veteran, Downing said the simplest and the smallest of gestures of appreciation meant the most to his grandfather.

"The greatest tribute is not to utter words but to live by them," he said, quoting President Kennedy. "This community has shown time and time again the ability not just to utter words on days like today  and Memorial Day and other services,  but it has shown the ability to live by those words.   

"The reason that we have the freedom we have ... is because others put their lives on the line for us."

American Legion Post 125 Cmdr. Dennis St. Pierre was master of ceremonies and Katie Ameen, a granddaughter of the late Richard Ameen, a Marine veteran and former Post 125 commander, sang the national anthem.

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