Pittsfield to Pay Tribute to Fallen Airman Galliher

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Air Force Staff. Sgt. Jacob Galliher
Please note that the times have been updated; the procession is not likely to arrive in Pittsfield before 5:45 p.m.
 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield will be turning out to pay tribute to Air Force Staff. Sgt. Jacob Galliher as his remains are returned home on Friday. 
 
Galliher, 24, was killed when the Osprey aircraft he was on crashed off the coast of Japan along with seven other crew members. The Taconic High School graduate left behind his wife and 2-year-old and 6-week-old sons. 
 
Members of the Pittsfield Police and Fire departments, the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, State Police and the Dalton American Legion Riders will be escorting Galliher home from Westover Air Force Base along a route that will take them through Lee, Lenox and Pittsfield. 
 
Only invited guests and authorized personnel will be allowed to drive in the procession. Members of the public are welcome to pay their respects along the route beginning at 5:15 p.m. in Lee and 5:45 p.m. in Pittsfield. 
 
The procession will come from Lee down Walker Street and up Main Street with an arrival window in Lenox of 5:20-5:40 p.m. Flags will be given out at the Lenox Library and folks can line the street to pay their respects.
 
Galliher will arrive at Westover at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Friday and the procession, as requested by the family, will travel west on the Massachusetts Turnpike:
  • through downtown Lee
  • over Walker Street and through downtown Lenox
  • Route 7 to Park Square
  • West Street to Valentine Street to Taconic High
  • back to North Street to Bradford Street and Dery Funeral Home. 
The family will have some private time at Dery's. 
 
City officials have been working closely with the family, the Air Force and with Dery Funeral Home. Arrival times are subject to change and updates will be shared on the City of Pittsfield's Facebook page.
 
Flags are available to the public and can be picked up, after noon Thursday, at the following locations:
 
• City Hall, 70 Allen St.
• Department of Veteran’s Services, Senior Center, 330 North St.
• Pittsfield Fire Department Headquarters, 74 Columbus Ave.
• Colonial Theatre, 111 South St.

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18 Degrees Event Celebrates Reunified Families

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For many families involved with the Department of Children and Families, the first feeling is often fear of their child being removed from the home.
 
In reality, its goal is the opposite.
 
Last week, families, attorneys, social workers, and agency staff gathered at the 18 Degrees Family Resource Center to honor four families who overcame obstacles, such as addiction, successfully navigated the system, and were ultimately reunited with their children.
 
According to the event flyer, since 2010, the child welfare community has recognized June as Family Unification Month, formerly Family Reunification Month, to honor families working to strengthen and reunify their families, as well as the advocates who support them and help prevent family separation.
 
Speaking at the podium, some parents reflected on the negative perceptions they once had of DCF – views that changed as they confronted their struggles, persevered, and worked with the agency to access support and become better parents.
 
The setting of the celebration reflected the theme of new beginnings, as the name 18 Degrees symbolizes the height of the sun on a new day, which is filled with new opportunities and possibilities, said Stephanie Steed, 18 Degrees president and CEO. 
 
"It is where the change from darkness to light happens, and all those things are just really symbolic and really a part of everyone's process," she said. 
 
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