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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 OKs Parking Fix for Stalled Jordan St. Culvert Repairs

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — Jordan Street residents displaced by a years-old culvert collapse have a place to park this winter, but town officials remain in the dark regarding when the culvert will actually be fixed.
 
The Select Board on Wednesday approved a traffic commission recommendation to allow permitted on-street parking for specific residents during the winter parking ban.
 
Interim Town Administrator Holli Jayko explained that the collapse, which occurred behind a Jordan Street apartment building several years ago, effectively eliminated off-street parking for several households.
 
"This collapse eliminated parking for some residents which creates challenges during the winter parking-ban period," Jayko said.
 
While most residents on the narrow, one-way street have access to private parking, a select few were left with no legal options during the winter months. Those affected can now apply for a town permit, provided they can prove their parking loss is a direct result of the collapse.
 
Selectman Joseph Nowak noted the culvert has been "down for years" and questioned if there were any immediate plans for repair.
 
Community Development Director Donna Cesan said the town has been working with the Massachusetts and Federal Emergency Management agencies through the Hazard Mitigation Program, but the project is currently stalled at the federal level. Cesan noted that MEMA will not enter into a formal agreement until funding is fully secured.
 
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