GREENFIELD — A veteran, a survivor, now a centenarian, William Kostanski, born in 1918, celebrated his birthday Saturday.
At the Loyal Order of Moose Greenfield Lodge No. 997 on Church Street, nearly 100 people arrived for a potluck meal and to celebrate with Kostanski and his family.
“It started out as this little family thing, and now look at all these people,” said Kostanski’s great-niece Tammy Petrin, who helped organize the party.
Kostanski was born on Washington Street less than a mile away from the lodge, and lived in Greenfield nearly his entire life. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1944, a technician fourth grade in Alpha Company’s 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
On Dec. 7, 1941, Kostanski was stationed on the island of O’ahu, at Schofield Barracks just north of Pearl Harbor.
The Empire of Japan, unprovoked, assaulted the area with hundreds of aircraft, killing thousands of Kostanski’s countrymen.
Kostanski went on to fight in the Pacific theater of World War II. He earned many decorations for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal awarded “for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy of the United States during the New Guinea campaign,” according to his citation.
Because of his achievements and the momentous occasion, he was graced by some special guests and gifts at his birthday party.
“Sir, I salute you. We’re extremely proud of your service, as you should be, and you set an example for all of us,” said Bob Henry of Northfield’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9874.
Members of the VFW posted the colors at the start of the celebration, and Henry later presented Kostanski with a membership to the Northfield post and a letter from the National VFW Commander-in-Chief Keith Harman acknowledging Kostanski’s sacrifices.
Kostanski, sitting at the front of the room, wore a gold party hat — except, of course, during those times it was appropriate to take it off. The Pledge of Allegiance and when his grandson Sage pinned his decorations on his jacket were such times.
The Lt. Col. Mark Kalin, on behalf of the U.S. Army, presented Kostanski with the reissued medals. In a touching, quiet moment, he embraced his grandson, the decorations shining on his chest.
A gentleman, Kostanski stood each time a new speaker would come up and shook their hand, ignoring their requests for the 100-year-old to stay seated.
“The values that you’ve lived with all of your life serve as an example to all of us of how to live a good and honest and decent life,” said Massachusetts Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst.
Rosenberg presented Kostanski with acknowledgements from Massachusetts Sen. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, as well as from the state legislature as a whole.
“I asked him when I came in how it feels to be a day older and he said, ‘great,’” Rosenberg said with a chuckle. “Tomorrow we’ll ask him again and he’ll say, ‘great.’”
Greenfield Mayor Bill Martin also attended, gifting Kostanski the city’s “Golden Cane” — a traveling cane temporarily held by the oldest people in the city — and a letter from the city and from U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield. Neal also sent a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol as a birthday present.
As if the honors weren’t piling up enough, Gov. Charlie Baker also sent Kostanski an acknowledgement.
Kostanski, though, wanted to make sure everyone else at the celebration was comfortable. During mealtime, he shook hands and took photographs with others.
“I just want everyone to feel free to walk around,” he said. “Do anything you would like.”
David McLellan can be reached at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.