North Adams celebrates Memorial Day

NORTH ADAMS – Approximately 200 people gathered at Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate military veterans and those lost in the line of duty with music, speeches and other fanfare.

“I’m honored to be here today with you at this veterans’ memorial,” 1st Berkshire District Representative Gailanne M. Cariddi (D-North Adams) told the crowd.

The ceremony marked the finale of the city’s annual Memorial Day Parade, which started at the American Legion, wound through downtown and ended at the park, on the corner of Center and Eagle streets.

Rep. Cariddi served as the keynote speaker for the celebration, and North Adams Mayor Richard J. Alcombright also spoke at the event.

“As a nation, we have and will continue to fight for our freedom and the freedom of others,” the mayor said.

“We continue to lose military personnel in wars and conflicts every day,” Rep. Cariddi said.

Both Rep. and Mayor Alcombright referred to local soldiers who recently died, including U.S. Army Spc. Michael R. DeMarsico II of North Adams and Army Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling of Dalton.

“On this historic Memorial Day, we stand together…to celebrate and commemorate them,” the representative said.

“The only thing that we have to do is always remember,” the mayor said.

In addition to those remarks, music was provided by the Drury High School Marching Band. The band performed “The Star Spangled Banner” (with vocalist William Brown) and “Let There Be Peace on Earth” during the ceremony; trumpet soloists Matt Scanlon and James Montgomery also performed “Taps” near the celebration’s end.

Billy Galipeau, an eighth grader at Drury, also gave a reading of the Gettysburg Address and was presented with the George Angeli Award by North Adams Police Officer (and veteran) Zachary J. Wood.

Retired United States Air Force Lt. Col. Bruce Shepley served as the master of ceremonies, and American Legion Post 125 Chaplain Louis Floriani delivered opening and closing prayers.

In addition to the marching band and the people who spoke at the ceremony, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 996, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 54, American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 100 and American Legion Post 125 participated in the parade.

Vehicles in the parade route included a police cruiser, a trolley for transporting veterans, North Adams Fire Department Ladder No. 2 and a North Adams Ambulance.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on May 30, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry