PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Dozens of veterans marched through downtown Pittsfield Thursday morning as the city’s Veterans Day parade returned after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.

“It’s terrific to be back this year,” Mike Ancora, a member of the Marine Corps League, said. “You can look around and see most of the guys are all happy about it, raring to go.”  

What You Need To Know

  • Pittsfield Veterans Day parade returned Thursday after being canceled last year
  • It was uncertain if the parade would happen because of COVID-19 concerns
  • The parade concluded with a ceremony honoring the city’s veterans
  • Dalton’s Bobby Dasset was honored as this year’s Berkshire Veteran of the Year 

“People come out and applaud, make you feel like what you did in the past was worthwhile,”  Stan Kmon of the Dalton American Legion said. “It’s just all around a good feeling. Not having it last year was a big disappointment, so we’re all very, very happy.”

With COVID-19 case numbers still a concern in the city, it wasn’t a certainty the parade would happen.

Still, Pittsfield veterans services director John Herrera said more people than ever reached out to him about participating this year.

“I had discussions with the mayor and our interim health director,” said Herrera. “We kept an eye on the statistics and the trends and everything. But this year was of the utmost importance, because we need to get back to normal.”

The parade came down South Street and concluded with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park, which included honoring this year’s Berkshire Veterans Coalition Veteran of the Year, Bobby Dasset.

Dasset, a member of the Dalton American Legion, lost his left hand while serving in the Air Force, and has since dedicated his life to supporting veterans' causes, following in his father’s footsteps.

“I was present the day my father received the award in 2003, and I remember how proud I was, and I said to myself it would be great to receive this like he did,” Dasset said. “So I’ve strived to work as hard as I could doing stuff for veterans, and receiving this is just awesome.”