North Adams remembers its sons who died in the Korean War

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    Some may call it the “forgotten war” but it certainly never was to those who fought in the Korean War or lost a loved one in it.     Twelve men from North Adams died in the Korean War: Roland L. Burke, Patrick J. Gaffey, Gordon A. Greene, Laurent J. Lasante, Burton H. Levenson, Francis J. Lopreta, Wilfred O. Robidoux, Eugene A. Serre, Foster R. Strange, Augustus E. Todd, William Moss, and Michael W. Flaherty.     Veteran activist Michael Catrambone organized the ceremony at North Adams City Hall in honor of these men and their families on Sunday, June 25 — the 50th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. About 100 people attended the ceremony.     “This ceremony is not intended to reopen old wounds,” Catrambone said, “but to tell you that Mayor Barrett and the people of North Adams have not forgotten them — and they never will.”     Those attending the ceremony received small American flags and a list of those who died with “We Have Not Forgotten Them” written at the top.     The ceremony began with the raising of the colors by John Gaffey, who lost his brother, Patrick, in Korea, and Francis Merrigan, a city veteran of both World War II and Korea.     The Rev. Daniel O’Hear, pastor of St. Anthony’s Church, a chaplain in the National Guard for 27 years, gave the opening prayer:     “We gather here today to honor those who gave their lives in Korea. We pray for them certain that as they gave their lives, you received them into the paradise to which you call all of us,” he said. “We ask your blessing upon us, too, that we might remember the ideals for which they died and dedicate our lives to following them.”     North Adams Mayor John Barrett III gave opening remarks.     “On behalf of the city of North Adams, it gives me great honor and pride to say that we are participating in ceremonies here today in this city as they are all across this nation,” he said. “While some may be bigger than others, more people in attendance, it means the same no matter where we are in this great country.”     Barrett said he remembered as a small boy seeing troops coming home from the war on his family’s new television set.     “It meant very little to me as a seven-year-old at that time,” he said. “As I look back, and as others look back, we realize we have forgotten those who served this country, especially those who served in the Korean War, a conflict that was really never resolved — and hopefully will be resolved in the next several months as the north is now talking to the south.”     Merrigan said he knew many of the men being memorialized and that memory revivifies them.     “Memory hugs them, holds their hands, smiles upon them, kisses away their tears, and prays with them. As when a giant oak upon the hill falls, they went down in thunder, leaving an empty place against the sky, a void in your hearts,” he said. “Remembrance must fill this void.”     “We salute you, comrades,” Merrigan said. “We salute your loving families.”     As Catrambone read the names of the 12 men killed, a bell in an old fire engine tolled for each one. Then young saxophonist Tony Mowe played “Amazing Grace.”     Barrett next spoke to the families of the veterans.     “The most unnatural thing in life is for a mother or a father to lose a child. It just isn’t right. It’s hard to explain,” he said.     He noted he had visited 101-year-old Julia White, the city’s only remaining Gold Star mother who lost her son, Burton H. Levenson, in the war.     “The first thing she said to me, as tears welled up in her eyes — ‘I still miss my son, who died nearly 48 years ago,’ ” Barrett recalled.     The nephew of Gordon A. Greene, Alex Daugherty, responded on behalf of the families.     “I graciously accept this memorialization of my uncle Gordon Greene,” he said. “My only regret is that I didn’t have long enough with him as an uncle to grow up with. But he’s still missed.”     Henry Dean, a veteran of the war, released “doves of peace,” which flew upward to applause.     State Rep. Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams) said his father served in the Korean War. As had Barrett, he thanked Catrambone for his efforts such as this.     The city accepted a flag in a case from Lt. Gen. Daniel Petrosky, who had it flown at a guard post at the demilitarized zone in Korea. Barrett read a letter from the general, who was not in attendance.     “I’m deeply honored and moved to present this American flag to the city of North Adams,” Petrosky wrote. “On June 25, 1950 North Korea launched a surprise attack on South Korea. The United States and other United Nations command countries came to the aid of South Korea to repel the communist attack.”     “By defeating communist aggression in Korea, the American Korean War veterans helped South Korea establish a free, democratic and economically healthy country,” he wrote.     At the end of the ceremony, Catrambone thanked those who attended. “We did not forget them,” he concluded.          
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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 
 
The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 
 
"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."
 
LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 
 
"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.
 
The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.
 
"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back. 
 
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