PITTSFIELD — If you’ve attended a veterans event anywhere in Berkshire County, chances are you know Woody Vaspra.

Commander of American Legion Post 68, Vaspra never stopped serving his country after being discharged from the Air Force.

Beyond his leadership roles, he helped launch the Building Bridges Fire Initiative, which brings veterans together around a campfire and dinner to share wartime experiences and paths to healing. He has also worked closely with hospice care for veterans.

John Lindley, 80, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, salutes Tuesday as the colors of the day are posted during a Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Pittsfield.

And as commander of the Berkshire County Veterans Coalition, Vaspra typically presents the Veteran of the Year award during Pittsfield’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. But this year, the Air Force B-52 pilot was on the receiving end of that honor.

“It's my honor to work with the veterans, the lot of them, and the families,” Vaspra said during Tuesday’s event at the Veterans Memorial. “It really just fills my heart.”

The honor was presented before a crowd of veterans, public officials, family members and others gathered to honor the service of Berkshire County’s veterans, both living and deceased, following the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade.

Despite heavy snowfall, participants — including members of Soldier On, Pittsfield Police and Fire Departments, Disabled Veterans Chapter 15, Italian American War Veterans, and VFW Post 448 — marched from the intersection of North and West streets to the South Street memorial.

Joseph Difilippo plays taps Tuesday during a Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Pittsfield during the first snowfall of the season.

The event, led by Jim Clark, the city’s director of veterans services, opened with the posting of colors by Bobby Dassett of Dalton American Legion Post 155 and an invocation from Chaplain Hank Morris.

Girl Scout Troop 64912 recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park in Pittsfield.

Girl Scout Troop 64912 led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by opening remarks from Mayor Peter Marchetti, who took a moment to recognize Clark, who is retiring soon.

“Veterans Day is a day to recognize all the men and women who are currently serving or have served in the armed forces … thank you for your selfless service to our community and country,” Marchetti said. “You heeded the call to defend and honor our nation, and you stepped into harm's way. Your contributions will never be forgotten, and I will always do what I can to help veterans, especially those who are in need.”

The Pittsfield High School Marching Band plays Tuesday as the Veterans Day Parade proceeds down South Street in Pittsfield to Veterans Memorial Park.

The Pittsfield High School band performed patriotic songs, and former state Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli and his team were recognized for their work in bringing the Vietnam Traveling Wall to the Berkshires and establishing the Gold Star Family Memorial in Lenox.

“It was so wonderful that many of the veterans, including myself, who have friends on the wall, were able to do closure, because that's very important,” said Vaspra, who did three tours of duty in Vietnam, while presenting Pignatelli with a commemorative plaque.

Woody Vaspra hands a plaque to William ‘Smitty’ Pignatelli honoring him for his service to veterans during a Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Pittsfield. Pignatelli was recognized for helping to bring the Vietnam Traveling Wall to the Berkshires and establishing the Gold Star Family Memorial in Lenox.

In his remarks, Pignatelli called on younger generations to carry on the work of honoring veterans year-round.

“Every day is Veterans Day. I wear my dad's dog tags for World War II every day as a remembrance of his service and sacrifice,” he said. “I think we have an obligation. We need to make a commitment to educate and inform the next generation so that these traditions can continue on forever and ever.”