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Student Andrew Meaney try to properly fold an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol with some help from American Legion members.
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St. Pierre and Lussier give the flag-folding presentation in the school playground.
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Students Tim Kupiec and Andrew Meaney assist.
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The flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol.
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St. Pierre says it is important to keep the flag taut while folding.
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Meaney said folding the flag was difficult and wasn't sure if he committed it to memory after one fold.
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An officer who attended Officer William Evans' funeral gave Abbey Little the flag.
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The flag will be displayed in the school.

St. Stan's Students Shown How to Fold American Flag

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Flag owner Abbey Little gives a reading during the folding.
ADAMS, Mass. — Members of the American Legion Post 125 visited St. Stanislaus School recently to show students how to properly fold a special flag that was flown over the Capitol.
 
"It is a special flag," student Abbey Little said at the June 10 presentation.
 
Abbey said she and some classmates had attended the funeral for Officer William "Billy" Evans in 2021.
 
Evans, a member of the U.S. Capitol Police, was killed on April 2, 2021, when a driver slammed his car into a checkpoint he was guarding at the Capitol. Evans was a Clarksburg native and attended local schools. His funeral was held at St. Stanislaus Church.
 
Abbey said one of the Capitol Police who attended the service approached the students.
 
"We were allowed to go down the street and watch," she said. "He came over to us and gave us stickers. We told him how the school was planning a trip to Washington, D.C."
 
Little said her parents stayed in touch with the officer, and they planned to meet up during the trip.
 
"He said he would find us and he did," she said. "He presented us with a flag to represent our school that flew over the Capitol." 
 
American Legion members Dennis St. Pierre and Thomas Lussier gathered a small crowd in the school playground to show how to properly fold an American flag.
 
Abbey gave a reading explaining what each fold represented as St. Pierre and Lussier folded the flag. 
 
Students Tim Kupiec and Andrew Meaney tried their hand at folding the flag, something they noted was more difficult than they anticipated.
 
"It was difficult," Andrew said.
 
"I knew how to do it before, but my mind blanked," Tim said.
 
St. Pierre noted it was important to hold the flag taut and said there was a specific order to the folding
 
He then showed the students how to present the folded flag with a proper grasp and salute. 
 
Teacher Angela Meaney said the flag will be displayed in the school with a certificate of authenticity.
 
"I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to witness, especially with the way they obtained the flag," she said.

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Adams Review Library, COA and Education Budgets

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen reviewed the public services, Hoosac Valley Regional School District and McCann Technical School budgets on Tuesday. 
 
The workshop at the Adams Free Library was the third of four joint sessions to review the proposed $19 million fiscal 2025 budget. The first workshop covered general government, executive, finance and technology budgets; the second public works, community development and the Greylock Glen. 
 
The Council on Aging and library budgets have increases for wages, equipment, postage and software. The Memorial Day budget is level-funded at $1,450 for flags and for additional expenses the American Legion might have; it had been used to hire bagpipers who are no longer available. 
 
The COA's budget is up 6.76 percent at $241,166. This covers three full-time positions including the director and five regular per diem van drivers and three backup drivers. Savoy also contracts with the town at a cost of $10,000 a year based on the number of residents using its services. 
 
Director Sarah Fontaine said the governor's budget has increased the amount of funding through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs from $12 to $14 per resident age 60 or older. 
 
"So for Adams, based on the 2020 Census data, says we have 2,442 people 60 and older in town," she said. "So that translates to $34,188 from the state to help manage Council on Aging programs and services."
 
The COA hired a part-time meal site coordinator using the state funds because it was getting difficult to manage the weekday lunches for several dozen attendees, said Fontaine. "And then as we need program supplies or to pay for certain services, we tap into this grant."
 
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