Residents Welcomed To Honor Fallen Soldier

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Residents are encouraged to line the streets to welcome home Michael DeMarsico, who was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan.

The soldier's family released on Friday the itinerary for the funeral.

On Wednesday, Aug. 29, at approximately 12:30 p.m. a motorcade carrying DeMarsico will arrive via Route 2 and the stop briefly at Veterans Memorial Park on its way to Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals' West Chapels.

All are encouraged to line the streets to welcome him home. Parking at the funeral home will not be available to anybody except family and the motorcade.

On Friday, Aug. 31, there will be calling hours at the West Main Street funeral home from 2 until 7 p.m.


On Saturday, Sept. 1, the funeral service and celebration of his life will be held at the First Baptist Church on Main Street. The procession will go travel east on West Main Street to the church and then from the church north on Eagle Street to Route 2, to Holden Street, to American Legion Drive, to Ashland Street and end at Southview Cemetery.

There will be a reception immediately following the services at the St. Elizabeth's Parish Center on St. Anthony Drive.

The city will be detouring traffic along the procession routes and there may be heavy congestion along the alternative routes.

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

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. 

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.
 
The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members. 
 
After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.
 
"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."
 
She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.
 
"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."
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