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Brayton Elementary children stand for the pledge on Friday morning as the school hosts a Memorial Day ceremony.
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Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152 presents the colors.
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Superintendent Barbara Malkas talks about her daughter joining the Coast Guard.
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Army Sgt. 1st Michael McCarron thanks students for thinking of veterans.
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Mayor Richard Alcombright says freedom shouldn't be taken for granted.
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Marine Lt. Col. Bennett Walsh thanks the students for hosting he ceremony.
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Fourth-graders read a Memorial Day Proclamation from the governor's office.

Brayton Elementary School Holds Memorial Day Ceremony

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Brayton Elementary School students and faculty honored veterans past and present during their Memorial Day ceremony.
 
After fourth-graders led the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem and went through the history of Memorial Day on Friday morning, speakers were invited to the stage to explain what Memorial Day means to them.
 
Army Sgt. 1st Michael McCarron thanked the students for holding the event and asked them to think about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
 
"I take a lot of time to think about all of my brothers and sisters that stood behind me during times of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq but they are no longer here to stand behind me during a time of peace," McCarron said. "Many men and women have given their lives so we can sit here today." 
 
He added that many other countries do not have the same freedoms.
 
"I think about the freedoms we have such as the right to vote, the freedom to go to school and freedom of speech, I think about the men and women who have laid down the ultimate sacrifice," he said. "When I was in other countries, I saw people that were not free that could not send their children to school, who could not choose the jobs they wanted … we have these freedoms here but they come at a cost."  
 
Superintendent Barbara Malkas also spoke and said the meaning of Memorial Day changed for her when her daughter enlisted in the Coast Guard.
 
"Like many Americans, I always looked forward to Memorial Day weekend as a much-needed day off and a kick-off to the summer season," she said. "Until 2010, that was the year my 17-year-old daughter stood up with her cohort at the United States Coast Guard Academy and raised her right hand to take the oath."  
 
"Let us show our respect for this country each day through our actions and our words as civilians and to be always ready, always faithful and ready to defend," she said. "This way, we honor our veterans and those who no longer stand before their ranks."  
 
Mayor Richard Alcombright asked the students to never take freedom for granted.
 
"Freedom is kind of like turning on the water for us. It is always there and for so many around the word there is no freedom," the mayor said. "It just does not exist. We are fortunate to live under a flag that represents that freedom because of the men and women present and past who have died to protect us and those freedoms."
 
Marine Lt. Col. Bennett Walsh was the last to speak and said he decided he wanted to be a Marine at the age of 9 because he wanted to protect the freedoms America has. 
 
He also thanked all the students for attending the ceremony and remembering fallen veterans.
 
"The fact that you are taking time out of your school day to do this is what Memorial Day is all about," he said. "You are remembering those who are not here with us today and it is important this weekend to remember the sacrifices those men and women have made."
 
The school chorus also performed and members of the band played the national anthem and other patriotic songs throughout the ceremony. 
 
The Williamstown American Legion Post 152 presented the colors.  

Tags: Brayton School,   Memorial Day,   

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Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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