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Color guards of the local veterans posts led their fellow members.
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Director Chris Caproni leads the Drury High School Band.
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The 379th Engineer Company fired off shots during the ceremony.
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Veterans and others salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
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The American Legion Riders joined the parade.

North Adams Celebrates Veterans Day With Parade, Ceremony

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
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Prior to the parade, the first-ever 'Up Front for DeMar' race and walk drew over 200 participants. For more photos of the parade, click here.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More than 100 people gathered at the Veterans Memorial following the annual parade on Sunday to honor troops of past and present and celebrate Armistice Day.
 
"On this Veterans Day we give thanks to the millions of Americans who have and continue to strengthen our nation with their example of service and sacrifice," said Mayor Richard Alcombright. "Our veterans are drawn from many generations and many backrounds. Some marched on battlefields, some fought on the seas, some patrolled the skies. However, all contributed to the character and greatness of the United States."
 
The parade began around 10:45 a.m. at American Legion Post 125 and continued down the drive, east on Main Street and north on Eagle Street toward the Veterans Memorial. A police cruiser led the parade, which included local veteran groups, American Legion Riders, the Drury High School band, and others.

At the memorial, American Legion Post 125 Cmdr. Dennis St. Pierre led the ceremonies, which featured keynote speaker Larry Connors, former Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department Commander for the American Legion.
 

American Legion Post 125 Cmdr. Dennis St. Pierre led the ceremony.
"Today we celebrate the veterans, living and for those who have left our ranks," Connor said. "And let them know, that they, while we mourn our losses, we truly celebrate Veterans Day."
 
Although much of the day revolved around celebration, it was impossible to ignore sacrifices.
 
Prior to the parade, the first-ever "Up Front for DeMar" race was held, which drew over 200 participants. The race raised money for a scholarship in the name of the late 20-year-old Army Spc. Michael DeMarsico II, who died while serving in Afghanistan in August.
 
"I spoke with Mike's mom and dad a few weeks ago...[they said], 'Just as Michael was going to serve his country he had told us he joined the service because he loved his hometown so much, he wanted to do all he could to protect it.'"
 
The mayor also thanked the local Elks Lodge for maintaining the park and replacing the flags annually.
 
After the ceremony's introduction, John LeClair, the 2012 Boys State participant from American Legion Post 125, led the Pledge of Allegiance. In between talks, the Drury Band performed the Star-Spangled Banner and the Armed Forces Medley.

Tags: DeMarsico,   veterans memorial,   

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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