PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Dozens gathered at Pittsfield’s South Street Memorial Park Wednesday to mark the 81st year since the attack on Pearl Harbor.

December 7 marks National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to honor the lives of more than 2,400 Americans killed during the attack in 1941. Pittsfield acknowledged the two local veterans who died in the attack along with veterans who died in World War II. 

Navy veteran Ronald Rousseau read their names and said he’s one of the many who chose to enlist after the Pearl Harbor attack.

“My father actually was on an aircraft carrier that did go to Pearl Harbor a year after the tragedy," Rousseau said. "And so, that was always my goal in life, to join the Navy out of high school. I was stationed in Hawaii. We tied up on a pier right across from the USS Arizona memorial, it’s still there today. It was very touching. But I’m proud of the Navy and anyone that’s in the military. I thank them all for what they do and volunteer to do."

Two stones in the park honor the Pittsfield veterans who died at Pearl Harbor, Army 1st sergeant Edward Burns and Navy electrician’s mate Roman Sadlowski.