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Berkshire County Remembers the Fallen on Memorial Day
Staff Reports,
05:58PM / Monday, May 25, 2015
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Lt. Col. Fran Bourdon, the main speaker at Adams' Memorial Day ceremony, gives a nod to 91-year-old Clement St. Hilaire of American Legion Post 160. Towns around the county marked the day by remembering sacrifices made by the nation's military men and women. See more photos  here.

ADAMS, Mass. — The first time Fran Bourdon spoke at a Memorial Day observance it was to remind participants of the sacrifices made in a long past war.

Fifty-five years ago to the day, the young Eagle Scout with Troop 38 had read the Gettysburg Address at the annual ceremony in Adams.

On Monday, the now retired National Guard colonel, "completing a life cycle," called on the gathering at the Maple Street Cemetery to continue to honor the nation's fallen by "continued and purposeful action of respect in our everday life" by promoting the ideals of liberty and American exceptionalism for which they sacrificed their lives.

"There has been no country in history that has given more of its treasure of manpower and financial resources to help other countries in trouble without attaching territorial or other bounty," he said. "The standards for medicine, technological innovation, research and space science are largely led by the United States even though we are one of the newst nations amoung the superpowers.  

"This did not happen by accident. It came about in an environment of relative peace in our land, where the brilliant people and institutions thrive in an atmosphere of certainty, stability and peace earned by our deceased brothers and sisters ...

"We are obligated by the memory of their sacrifices to ensure that these sacrifices were not made in vain."

The next generation has to build its own base of patriotism on a foundation informed by the past, he said, urging a connection of memory between past, present and future veterans to promote a desire to serve, and a call to become educated in the issues domestic and foreign affecting the nation, to vote for those best suited to preserve its principals and to become active in the political process and veterans organizations.

In doing so, Bourdon said, "We ensure that their service and sacrifice was not in vain and we can pass to another generation the same promise of freedom and prosperity that our forefathers passed to us."

Adams' parade and ceremony was one of many that took place across the county on Monday. Bourdon, the keynote speaker, was raised in Adams and served in the National Guard for 36 years, retiring as intelligence and security division chief for the Guard's state headquarters. He most recently retired as executive director for Association of Marian Helpers after many years in the banking industry.

Joining Bourdon at the podium were master of ceremonies Paul Hutchinson; Aaron Holman-Vittone, winner of the Hoosac Valley High School Junior Prize Speaking Contest, who gave the Gettysburg Address, and Hoos Valley eighth-grader Casey Meczywor, who read the poem "In Flanders Field." The Rev. Steven Montesanti, pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, gave the opening and closing prayers. Musical selections were provided by Tom Brown and Hannah Koczela, a Hoosac freshman, along with the Hoosac Valley and Berkshire Highlanders bands. The parade marshal was John Bordeau and Selectmen Chairman Richard Blanchard, Joseph Nowak and Jeffrey Snoonian attended.

The ceremony capped a parade along Summer and Park streets that included veterans, local fire and police, the high school band and Highlanders, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and children with patriotically decorated bicycles.

In Pittsfield, Veterans Services Director James Clark reminded the large crowd gathered at the city cemetery that the heroes being honored on Memorial Day never planned to be heroes.

"The heroes remembered today never set out to be heroes ... they started out as we did, with plans for a long and happy life," Clark said.

Those who went to the battlefields across the globe all had plans to return and make a life for themselves, he said. And the families all have lasting memories of the last joke siblings cracked before being shipped out or the last kiss couples shared before the ship set sail. And then, a telegram came and all of those plans disappeared.

"In the end, all we can do is be thankful. We can remember," Clark said.


Pittsfield

See more photos from Pittsfield here.

Cheshire
See more Cheshire photos here.

North Adams
See more pictures from North Adams here.

Clarksburg
See more Clarksburg photos here.

Williamstown
More photos from Williamstown can be found here.

Lanesborough
Lanesborough held its ceremonies on Sunday. See story more photos here.

He also reminded the crowd that there are still numerous soldiers who went to war and whose fate is still unknown. Meanwhile, he said war efforts have changed. Whereas once the entire country was part of the effort in some form or another, now only 1 percent of Americans are affected by the ongoing battles in the Middle East and Afghanistan. He called on residents to do more at home to show their thanks and support.

"Today most Americans are not directly touched by war," he said.

Clark gave his address after a parade marched from City Hall, down North and Wahconah streets, to Pittsfield Cemetery. There a ceremony was held featuring patriotic music, taps, and national anthem from the Pittsfield High School band; a reading of General John A. Logan's Memorial Day Order by Mike Ancora; a volley from the James E. Callahan Berkshire Chapter 65 Honor Guard; and the reading of names by the Rev. Peter Gregory for each veteran who died this year with their respective veterans branch laying a poppy in an urn.

"Memorial Day is not a day of fireworks and loud, noisy parades," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said. "It is the most solemn day."

The mayor shared a story about his childhood friend who was sent to war and returned with "unseen wounds," asking residents to keep those service members currently overseas in their prayers.

The Rev. Don Fyfe provided the invocation; Martha Green sang "America the Beautiful"; Rabbi Josh Breindel gave the benediction; Dermont Sporbert was the officer of the day; and Fran Tremblay served as the master of ceremonies.

After a parade lead by the Drury High marching band, North Adams residents, veterans and special guests met at the Veterans Memorial to reflect on and remember those who have fallen in combat.

Master of ceremonies Dennis St. Pierre of American Legion Post 125 welcomed everyone and thanked those who attended the ceremony for remembering the importance of the day.

"Today we honor all of our fallen soldiers, and it is very important that all of you are here," St. Pierre said. "I also thank the young people for being here because it is a very important day for all of us."

Mayor Richard Alcombright said great respect should be given to those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

"We must remember today with great reverence and respect for those who have died we must remember that they did do to preserve ... the freedoms we so cherish and enjoy," he said. "While we should never glorify the fight, we should always remember to glorify those who fought and those who died."

Keynote speaker Melissa Jackson, administrator at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, asked attendees to reflect on the real meaning of a Memorial Day that has been altered to symbolize other things such as barbecues, picnics, or the beginning of summer. So much so, that the term "Happy Memorial Day" has surfaced.

"All too often the meaning of today has been forgotten, and if you stop and think about it 'happy' and memorial don't even belong in the same sentence together," Jackson said. "By all means say happy Veterans Day ... but please never wish anyone a happy Memorial Day, especially to a veteran or [someone whose] family member has died protecting our freedom."

Allison Zoito, this year's winner of the George A. Angeli Award, read the Gettysburg Address. The award is given in remembrance of Angeli, a Navy veteran and North Adams police officer struck and killed by drunk driver while on duty in 1960. He is the only North Adams police officer to ever perish while on duty.

Past Cmdr. William Schrade of the American Legion led the opening closing prayers; Matt Scanlon and Brian Christian played taps and echo. Members of the Legion, VFW Post 996, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 54 and American Veterans Post 100 participated. Rick Wood and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 125 distributed flags.

The small town of Cheshire has provided many sons and daughters to the service of the nation, a point of pride that ceremony speaker Selectmen Chairwoman Carol Franseconi noted as she asked the gathering at the town cemetery to reflect on the sacrifice many had made for America.  

"We have over 300 veterans buried here in Cheshire cemetery, and we are able to see Old Glory flying near their gravestones as a constant reminder of their sacrifice for us," Franseconi said. "It is for us to remember their sacrifice, and it if or us to remember the ultimate price they paid so we can live in a free democratic nation. We must never forget that freedom is not without a cost."

The observances followed a parade through the heart of town that included the volunteer Fire Department, local officials, veterans, the Hoosac Valley High School band, Shriners and children riding bikes decked out in red, white and blue.

The parade and residents made the long walk up the hill to cemetery for speeches including three selected essays written by pupils at Cheshire Elementary School.  Each year, children in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are asked to explain what Memorial Day means to them.

All three spoke to the sacrifices and risks made by those serving in the military as they read their essays.

"Memorial Day is to honor war veterans who have given their lives for us," Lilly Boudreau said. "Many amazing people have made this sacrifice ... I will never lose focus on what honor the deceased veterans, who are the real superheroes, deserve."

Jenny Prokopowicz had similar sentiments, saying, "On Memorial Day we honor those who have fallen while protecting us.

"These people risked their lives for the love of our country ... It would be a very scary thing to go into war, but these soldiers fought for everything."

"Even though Memorial Day is usually a more ignored holiday, it has one of the greatest meanings," Christina Fortier said. "To honor those who have died for our country."

The Williamstown parade marched from Spring Street to the veterans memorial at Field Park for ceremonies. Families of three veterans — Arthur Webb, Eddie Carliell Sr. and James Williams — were presented with flags. D-Day veterans Rolland Roy and Gordon Morrison were also recognized. Army National Guard Maj. Adam Filson was master of ceremonies and Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152 provided the color guard.

"Today is not a day where we celebrate veterans, it is a day where we celebrate what veterans have done for us," said Parade Marshal Peter White, a World War II veterans and past senior vice commander of the American Legion. "When I stand here and I breathe this fresh air from the Berkshires, and I look at the beautiful blue sky, I realize that these freedoms we have, even this freedom we have to gather, is a freedom that people have fought and died for, and we should respect that."

The ceremony and parade also included a flyover of two F-15s, the Mount Greylock High and Williamstown Elementary school bands, Scouts and Girl Scouts, Post 152 Women's Auxiliary, and North Adams Night Cruzers Antique Cars club.

Keynote speaker Army Capt. Jacob Schutz said the Memorial Day has been set aside as a time of commemoration - for the legacy that was left us and for those who sacrificied themselves that we might keep that elgacy.

"In practice, it became a time of celebration and gatherings among neighbors, friends, and families.  In theory, it's a day to reflect and remember," he said.  "Upon reflection, I believe that the freedoms forged by our fallen warriors are measured more effectively by looking at what we do with our freedom.  

"I believe these gifts left behind by our honored dead include the abilities to put empathy into practice, experience and create beauty, and maintain brotherhoods."

The small gathering in Clarksburg was no less solemn, as keynote speaker Fire Chief Carlyle "Chip" Chesbro Jr. asked those present to thank a veteran personally for their service.

"For more than 200 years they fought for freedom ... the lives that were set aside, the families that were left behind  and ambitions that were never realized when the country called they heeded that call and stepped up," he said. "It is for this valor and dedication that we as American owe a great deal of debt to these veterans."

Their memory shouldn't be isolated to a single day, Chesbro said.

"We should, instead, keep in mind there are still battles going on in places we've never heard of and that our American forces are in harm's way each and every day ... We need to remember families are without fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers ... that every day, soldiers are still making the ultimate sacrfice."

Don Boudreau was the master of ceremonies and Laura Boudreau sang patriotic songs; the Clarksburg School band played the national anthem, Paul Gigliotti played taps and echo and a color guard of local veterans, including Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9144. Julia Jammalo, Holly Boudreau and Molly Wojnicki gave the Gettysburg Address.

The color guard and volunteer firefighters marched from the nearby Post home to the Town Hall for the ceremony.

Boudreau read the honor roll of Clarksburg residents killed in wars from World War I to Vietnam, with the bell struck for each name. A display was setup in the front of the hall with material and information about local veterans who had gone to war.  

"The United States of America has, from every corner of this great nation, given its best and brightest in the honorable struggle of ideas, the struggle of liberty and the struggle of freedom, and we as a nation are better for it," said Carl McKinney, town administrator and former selectman. "Let these services remind us that each and every soldier came from a family ... We pray for their save return. ...   and grant our leaders the wisdom and humanity and the humility in conducting this nation's affairs in keeping with the notions of liberty, peace and justice."

Photos and writeups by staff writers Tammy Daniels, Jack Guerino and Andy McKeever, and correspondent Richie Astle.

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