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Pittsfield Remembers Those Lost at Pearl Harbor 82 Years Ago

Ron Rousseau speaks at the Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park in Pittsfield.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 50 community members gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on Thursday morning to mark Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Eighty-two years ago, Japanese planes struck the naval base and airfield at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and sparked the nation's entrance into World War II. Every year, the Berkshire Veterans Coalition and the city pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the attack with a ceremony and tree lighting.

"Today's observance is for those men and women who made the supreme sacrifice on Dec. 7, 1941," veteran Ron Rousseau said.

"Approximately 80 service personnel from Berkshire County were stationed at Pearl Harbor on that day. During this horrific battle, two men were killed from Berkshire County."

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 was an electrician's mate when he died on the USS Oklahoma, which was struck by multiple Japanese torpedoes and sunk. He is immortalized with an honorary plaque at the South Street park.

His unidentified remains were interred for decades in the Punchbowl, which is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, until four years ago when they were identified through DNA comparisons with extended family members. Last year, he was laid to rest 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 before the attack and was the first soldier killed from his station at Wheeler Field on Oahu. He is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

"As the number of our greatest generation dwindles, there are fewer and fewer World War Two veterans living among us," Rousseau said.

"Yet stories of their service and commitment to our nation hold values that outlive flesh and blood. That is if we carry on with stories for future generations."

John Harding was the master of ceremonies, George Moran read the speech that President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8, 1941, Richard Kurek did the opening prayer, and Joseph Difilippo played taps. All the men are veterans.

The park's tree was illuminated by veteran Robert "Doc" Miller and the rifle volley was conducted by the Dalton American Legion Post 155 Honor Guard.

Below are the names of county residents who were present or killed at Pearl Harbor:

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

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.