Dalton Becomes Purple Heart Community

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:21AM / Wednesday, July 15, 2026Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — The town has been home to many veterans and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service — a new proclamation honors their service and sacrifice.

The Select Board signed a proclamation declaring the town a Purple Heart Community, joining communities across the commonwealth to adopt this as a way to honor their local Purple Heart recipients.

"This designation is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a public affirmation of Dalton's respect, gratitude, and enduring commitment to the men and women who have been wounded or killed in combat while serving in the United States Armed Forces," Historical Commission co-Chair Deborah Kovacs said at the Select Board meeting Monday night.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration that is still awarded to service members, recognizing their sacrifice, courage, and an unwavering devotion to the nation.

The Purple Heart originated on Aug. 7, 1782, when Gen. George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit to recognize enlisted soldiers and noncommissioned officers for exceptional service during the Revolutionary War.

It fell out of use after the war but was revived in 1932 on Washington's 200th birthday under the leadership of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Under the revival, it was still awarded for meritorious service or for combat wounds but during World War II this narrowed to service members wounded or killed as a direct or indirect result of enemy action. That wounds-only standard has remained in place ever since.

If a town wants to become a Purple Heart Community, it works with Military Order of the Purple Heart, which administers the program nationally

The basic requirements is to have at least one living or deceased Purple Heart recipient connected to the community, passing an official proclamation or resolution, which the Select Board did Monday, and recognizing National Purple Heart Day on Aug. 7.

The town has several Purple Heart recipients, several of which are recognized through the commission's Hometown Heroes Project.

Five commemorative banners hang outside of Town Hall recognizing Purple Heart recipients Army Spec. Mitchell Daehling, Army Corp. Gary Benjamin, Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Muraca, and Marine 2nd Lt. Michael Casey.

"This declaration would also align with the values that Dalton has consistently demonstrated: respect for service, pride in community and a commitment to honoring those who have given more than most," Kovacs told the board.

With this approval, the designation can be recognized through public messaging, signage at town gateways, and inclusion in future veteran-related programming, she said.

"It is a meaningful, dignified step that reflects who we are as a community," Kovacs said.

While the town's designation is symbolic, Purple Heart recipients qualify for a range of concrete federal and state benefits worth knowing about, especially for recipients or family members who may not have claimed everything available to them.

This includes automatic enrollment in the U.S. Veteran Affairs healthcare Priority Group 3, a 10-point preference when applying for federal civil service positions, and a specialized Purple Heart license plate.

Tags: purple heart, veterans,

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Pittsfield Outreach Program Sees Manager

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Monday, August 17, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Health Department's outreach program has a manager and is seeking two outreach workers.

Earlier this month, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi updated the Board of Health on the creation of a new initiative that connects individuals on the streets with needed services.

He reported that Community Health Worker Gabrielle DiMassimo was tapped as the Community Health Program Manager a couple of weeks prior after it was posted internally. DiMassimo has been reaching out to unhoused people in encampments with the Parks Department and co-responders, and other staff this summer.

"She's been with the department for a couple years, holds a bachelor's degree in public health, and has been doing a lot of this work," Cambi said.

"Even in her college years, she was doing encampments and outreach with Worcester Public Health Department, so she really fit the bill for this position."

The position oversees Pittsfield's peer outreach initiative while advancing the long-term vision for the health department to be a more proactive, community-centered public health agency, as well as the health department's evolving responsibility to address prevention, access to services, social determinants of health, and community well-being through coordinated outreach and engagement.

Last year's controversial camping ordinance was sent to the Board of Health, and they determined it is not the best approach for Pittsfield. It was officially scrapped by the City Council earlier this year and replaced with a peer outreach program that provides harm reduction support services, navigation, and relationship-building with vulnerable residents.

The program director and outreach worker positions were approved by the City Council earlier this season. The outreach worker positions were posted internally, received applicants, and will soon go external to expand the candidate pool.

Cambi reported that the encampment group has been conducting outreach with DiMassimo. Workers speak with people at the encampments, tag the equipment, give the people an opportunity to relocate, and connect them with available resources.

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