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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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Business Success, Storm Clouds Highlighted at 1Berkshire Annual Meeting

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

Cheshire native JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable delivers the keynote address on Thursday.
 
ADAMS, Mass. — One of the county's biggest employers and one of its newest small businesses were touted on Thursday at 1Berkshire's annual meeting at the Adams Theater.
 
The vice president of maritime and strategic systems strategy and business development at General Dynamics shared news of a major expansion at the Pittsfield plant.
 
"We plan to hire over 200 employees in Pittsfield over the next 12 to 14 months," Chris Montferret said. "Business is booming. And of those 200 employees, over 200 will be engineers."
 
Currently, General Dynamics employs more than 1,600 people in Pittsfield, up from a low of 500 in 1997, Montferret said, reminding the 1Berkshire membership of the importance of growth for an anchor like his firm.
 
"As you all know as employers, the multiplier of economic development when you bring a full-time employee in is amazing for the entire community," Montferret said.
 
1Berkshire is dedicated to advancing the local economy by advocating for and serving local businesses while helping attract visitors to the region.
 
The development organization's president and CEO used the annual meeting to talk about 1Berkshire's economic development team, which averages more than 100 consultations per year with local entrepreneurs — over 40 percent with businesses owned by women, members of minority groups or immigrants.
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