Letter: International Women's Day

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To the Editor:

This letter was ignored by the Berkshire Eagle

Friday, March 8, was International Women's Day. Here in the Berkshires, it was celebrated by the Zonta club, an International Women's Leadership organization, by honoring six dynamic women from our community at a special dinner that attracted over 200 attendees.

This diverse group of women has made monumental contributions from coaching young professionals to build careers here to providing over two million diapers to those in need. These women aren't CEOs of big corporations and they didn't develop the latest app. They excelled by giving their time, skills and in most cases their own money for the benefit and betterment of the Berkshires. Their stories are inspirational, serving as powerful testaments of selfless service to guide young girls and women.

On Saturday morning, I sat down with my digital copy of the Berkshire Eagle–our Hometown Newspaper– expecting to read about this event and the special women leaders who are uplifting our community but there was no story or photo. Making headlines was the lead story with photos about “Drag Time Story Hour for our Children.”


I seriously question the Eagle's editorial decision and judgment. How do you ignore this opportunity to illustrate International Women's Day through local coverage of Zonta's six remarkable honorees, from diverse backgrounds and roles, who are leading the Berkshires to build a more equitable, desirable and respectful place to live?

I've met the editor and publisher of the Eagle. He's a smart guy. This wasn't a mistake. I believe this was an intentional effort by our hometown newspaper to advance a political agenda while ignoring real community heroes. Eagle editors have demonstrated irresponsible behavior and a lack of leadership and judgment by propagating a targeted narrative.

Get the focus where it belongs.

Respectfully,

Roger Gibboni
Lanesborough, Mass. 

 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Installed in Lenox

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

Volunteers put the pieces of the wall together at War Memorial Field. More photos here.

LENOX, Mass. — With a motorcade that stretched for a mile and dozens of volunteers ready to help with the erection process, the Vietnam Traveling War Memorial arrived at War Memorial Field on Thursday afternoon.

The three-fifths scale replica of the national monument in Washington, D.C., will officially open to the public with an 11 a.m. opening ceremony on Friday morning and will be on view through a 3 p.m. closing ceremony on Sunday.
 
The traveling exhibit made its last stop in Berkshire County two years ago when it was installed in Dalton.
 
The black granite monument in the nation's capitol, designed by then 21-year-old Maya Lin, was dedicated on Veterans Day, 1982.
 
The 493-foot wall on the National Mall is inscribed with the names of 58,318 men and women who died in combat or are listed as missing in action in Vietnam, where the United States was at war from the 1950s through 1975.
 
Those same names are inscribed on the traveling wall, and the Lenox installation has the added feature of 27 markers recognizing Berkshire County residents who gave their lives in service of their country during the war.
 
In addition to the 27 placards designed and framed by students at McCann Tech, the local heroes are marked by 27 American flags installed on Thursday by volunteers, who also helped put up the dozens of sections of the wall.
 
According to the traveling memorial's website, travelingwall.us, its next stop after Lenox will be in Hudson Falls, N.Y., July 24-28.
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