Pittsfield Veterans Mark 81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack
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| Around 50 people gathered at the Veterans Memorial Park to mark the 81st anniversary of the attack on the naval base and airfield at Pearl Harbor. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 50 people gathered at Veterans Memorial Park to mark the 81st anniversary of the attack on the naval base and airfield at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii that sparked the nation's entrance into World War II.
"On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day we pay tribute to the souls lost over 80 years ago," Director of Veterans Services Jim Clark said.
"We salute those who responded with strength and courage in service that our nation and renew our dedication to the ideals for which they stood for."
The attack claimed the lives of more than 2,400 Americans including two Pittsfield residents: Petty Officer 3rd Class Roman Sadlowski and Army Air Forces 1st Sgt. Edward Burns.
The 18-year-old Sadlowski from Pittsfield was an electrician's mate when he died on the USS Oklahoma, which was struck by multiple Japanese torpedoes and sunk.
For decades, his remains could not be located in the wreckage of the Oklahoma, and he was honored only with this stone and plaque at the South Street Park. His remains were identified three years ago thanks to recent DNA comparisons with extended family members and, in September, he went to his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Burns, also a Pittsfield native, was 24 years old when he was severely wounded in the attack and died several days later. He was attached to a squadron that had arrived in Hawaii only two days prior to the attack and was the first soldier killed from his station at Wheeler Field on Oahu.
"It has been said that a veteran dies twice: The first one he takes his last earthly breath and the second when we as a people forget who they are," Clark said.
"Therefore, as in all previous ceremonies, we honor our two former residents who were killed in action that day."
About 80 servicemen from Berkshire County were stationed at or near Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, including more than 40 from Dalton and Pittsfield.
Veteran George Moran read the speech that President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8, 1941, just one day after the attack, and veteran Ron Rousseau read the names of Dalton and Pittsfield residents who were killed or present at the naval base in Honolulu or the nearby airfield.
Taps was played by veteran Joseph DeFilippo and the Christmas tree was lit by veteran Robert "Doc" Miller. The rifle volley was conducted by the American Legion Post 155 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448.
Below are the names of county residents who were present or killed:
Michael Baranuk
Louis D.Barnes
Joseph Baroli
Harold Bence
Gladys Beniel
Charles Berry
John J. Bilodeau
Joseph Bulwinkle
Edward Burns
Robert C. Burt
Woodfordr Chapman
John Curley
Charles Curone
Francis Deambrogio
James W Drain
George F Drosehn
Charles Filkins
Williams Fitch
Phillip Gallant
Roger Hall
Benjamin Handerek
James Houldsworth
Ronald Hunter
George Kiligas
Joseph Kozak
John W Kross
Richard D.Lassor
Robert Mickle
Francis Moore
Paul L.Moran
Thomas O'neil
Joseph Phillips
George Pike
Raymond Przpelski
Hugh Quirk
Leo O.Rondeau
Roman Sadlowski
Lauriele I. St. Jacoues
Louis J. Scully Jr.
Edward F.Shea
Edward Siwik
Chester Stocklosa
John Temple
Raymond Trczinka
Frank Winne
Willis Worth
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