NORTH ADAMS - Veterans and residents battled a sharp, cold wind Sunday to remember the nation's servicemen and -women, past and present, on Veterans Day. It was a day to remember how ordinary men and women have continued to make extraordinary sacrifices to defend this nation.
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"The act of donning a uniform is a deeply symbolic act," said Lt. Col. Michael Hynes to the bundled-up crowd clustered around the Veterans Memorial on Route 2. "It is an act that expresses a deep and selfless commitment in the idea we call America."
Hynes, a graduate of Drury High School who enlisted in the Army in 1980, recalled the dedication and service of four particular servicemen: Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, Pfc. Stephen Sanford, Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham and Lt. Michael Murphy.
Smith held off an attacking force outside Baghdad, sacrificing himself to save his comrades; Sanford was shot several times while trying to recover wounded comrades, holding off snipers then doing CPR on a wounded man until he passed out from loss of blood; Murphy placed himself in peril to call for help when his patrol was discovered by the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan and was mortally wounded as the helicopter rescue arrived; and Dunham threw himself over a grenade released by an insurgent in Kabul, shielding his colleagues with his body.
All extraordinary acts, but not surprising to those who've worn the uniform, said Hynes, battalion commander of the 114th Signal Battalion at Fort Derick, Md. "We are awed by their strength but not surprised. We expect our comrades to be strong and hard ... this strength is truly the strength of America."
That strength transcends changes in war, policy, uniforms and equipment, he said. Rather, it's a tradition of patriotism that's felt by every veteran, "an enduring quality" that was the same 200 years ago and that will continue a hundred years from now.
"Ordinary men and women have been performing extraordinary duty ... to sacrifice for others they may never know or may not agree with. Our veterans have taken the idea of a free nation and turned it into the reality of a free nation."
Yet even as GIs consistently top public opinion polls as among the most admired people in the nation, their sacrifices are too often forgotten, said Larry Brothers, District 1 commander of the American Legion.
"When Congress refuses to pass mandatory funding for VA health care, veterans are disrespected; when veterans are denied access to VA facilities, they are disrespected; when schools tell the military to keep the recruiters away, veterans are disrespected; and when a wartime Army general is called a traitor, veterans are disrespected."
Brothers said some quarter of the homeless population are veterans - nearly 90 percent of whom were honorably discharged, and 40 percent of whom served during the Vietnam War.
"Too often today's tattered citizen of the street was yesterday's toast of the town," said Brothers. "This is hardly the thanks of a grateful nation."
The American Legion has done much to support returning soldiers and veterans, he said, including providing help to families, traumatized servicemen and -women and those disabled. The organization has developed job fairs to help veterans find jobs and lobbied for better physical and mental health care. That includes the 1.2 million women who have worn the uniform, some of whom have given their lives in the war on terror. Breast and cervical cancer, domestic abuse and sexual trauma must be addressed, said Brothers.
"Know that when a soldier walks into an American Legion post, he is given the thanks of a grateful organization," said Brothers, adding that the group's leader has said, "if we put soldiers in boots and put those boots in harm's way, we must support them and their families."
He warned that as Washington wrote back in 1789, the future willingness of young men and women to serve their nation will depend on how they perceive past veterans to have been treated and appreciated.
Mayor John Barrett III was presented with a plaque for his "outstanding efforts" on behalf of local veterans. He spoke of how a picture on his office wall, depicting a family standing before the casket of "a father, a husband, a son" who died in the Gulf War brings tears to his eyes. He said there are Northern Berkshire families struggling with loss and they should not be forgotten.
"This isn't about whether we support a war or don't support a war," Barrett said. "This about [supporting] those who are there believing what they're doing is best for their country."
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, also spoke, American Legion Chaplain Louis Floriani gave the prayer, Paul Hopkins of Northern Berkshire Healthcare was the master of ceremonies, the Drury High School band played patriotic songs and members Michael LaRocca and Shawn Field played taps and response, and the Company C, 181st Engineers, were the firing squad.
Ceremonies were preceded by a march down Main Street of veterans, dignitaries and Scouts, all backed up by the Drury High School marching band as a small but hardy crowd waved American flags as they passed by.
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MCLA's Gallery 51 to Debut 'Materialscape' Exhibition
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's Gallery 51 will host an opening reception for a new exhibition titled "Materialscape" featuring the work of three visual artists who explore the intersection of materiality and land.
The exhibition opens on Friday, Sept. 6, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. including light refreshments and a performance by Marissa Baez. The exhibition is on view through Nov. 3.
According to a press release:
"Materialscape" introduces the work of three visual artists—Marissa Baez (Mexican American), Delaney Keshena (Menominee), and Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), each distinctively exploring the intersection of materiality and land. Their intentional use of material is deeply rooted in their cultural and personal journeys, manifesting either as a form of reclaiming or as a continuation. Ash, beeswax, metal, porcupine quills, paper, animal hide, and plants are not merely mediums but pivotal elements central to their expressive practices. By employing both natural and synthetic materials, the artists collectively share stories, memories, and histories that powerfully reflect on the contemporary Indigenous experience.
Through diligent research and the embrace of communal knowledge, these artists delve into the complexities of identity, resistance, and resilience. Their works act as a dynamic exploration of the interplay between culture, environment, and personal narrative, illustrating how deeply embedded materials can convey profound thematic inquiries. As they navigate through themes of dispossession and regeneration, their artworks resonate as potent symbols of cultural reclamation and personal revelation, offering insights into both shared and unique paths of Indigenous persistence and creativity.
The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St., North Adams, MA.
This grant is designated for Creative Community Fellows New England alumni to implement strategic plans that foster creative growth and community change in New England. click for more
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
click for more
The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more
FLASH VIDEOS
See the speech
"The act of donning a uniform is a deeply symbolic act," said Lt. Col. Michael Hynes to the bundled-up crowd clustered around the Veterans Memorial on Route 2. "It is an act that expresses a deep and selfless commitment in the idea we call America."
Hynes, a graduate of Drury High School who enlisted in the Army in 1980, recalled the dedication and service of four particular servicemen: Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, Pfc. Stephen Sanford, Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham and Lt. Michael Murphy.
Smith held off an attacking force outside Baghdad, sacrificing himself to save his comrades; Sanford was shot several times while trying to recover wounded comrades, holding off snipers then doing CPR on a wounded man until he passed out from loss of blood; Murphy placed himself in peril to call for help when his patrol was discovered by the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan and was mortally wounded as the helicopter rescue arrived; and Dunham threw himself over a grenade released by an insurgent in Kabul, shielding his colleagues with his body.
All extraordinary acts, but not surprising to those who've worn the uniform, said Hynes, battalion commander of the 114th Signal Battalion at Fort Derick, Md. "We are awed by their strength but not surprised. We expect our comrades to be strong and hard ... this strength is truly the strength of America."
That strength transcends changes in war, policy, uniforms and equipment, he said. Rather, it's a tradition of patriotism that's felt by every veteran, "an enduring quality" that was the same 200 years ago and that will continue a hundred years from now.
"Ordinary men and women have been performing extraordinary duty ... to sacrifice for others they may never know or may not agree with. Our veterans have taken the idea of a free nation and turned it into the reality of a free nation."
Yet even as GIs consistently top public opinion polls as among the most admired people in the nation, their sacrifices are too often forgotten, said Larry Brothers, District 1 commander of the American Legion.
