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Kiwanis Fill Park Square With Flags For Second Year
By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Saturday, October 24, 2015
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Many people attended the event.

The American Legion posted the colors.

The pledge of allegiance was led by local children.

Mayor Daniel Bianchi.

The ceremony took place on a chilly day.

Curtis Janey sang the National Anthem.

Tyrone Belanger set the table for POWs and MIAs.

Mike Case and Jack Nogueira.

Berkshire Bank's check presentation.

Mary Verdi.

Veteran Erwin Currier attended the ceremony for the second time.

Cheryl Tripp Cleveland and Jack Nogueira.

Real Gadoury.


A large crowd gathered for the opening ceremony Saturday afternoon.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In its second year, the Kiwanis Club of Pittsfield has grown the Park of Honor project to some 640 flags.
 
The flags are sponsored by residents and businesses in honor of veterans, each with a tag representing the name of the veteran being honored. The club is flying them throughout Park Square for the month of November.
 
"This is just a beautiful project," said Kiwanis Club Chairman Real Gadoury at a ceremony on Saturday. "We were trying this year to do 524 flags and we did 640."
 
The sponsorship, with the addition of four flag purchases Gadoury was given Saturday morning, translates to some $20,000 for scholarships. Students throughout Berkshire County are eligible to receive $1,000 each for college through the program. Last year the club sold 523 flags, which led to 12 scholarships being given out to students.
 
"Next year we'd like to raise $25,000 for scholarships," Gadoury told a large crowd in Park Square. 
 
The flags will fly in the park from now until Nov. 29. 
 
"Each and every one of these flags, all 640, has a story attached to it," said Cheryl Tripp Cleveland of the Kiwanis Club.
 
Mayor Daniel Bianchi called the display "awe inspiring" and said last year people were choking up because of the beauty of the display. He also called for remembrance of those who are currently fighting overseas.
 
"I cannot think of a warmer spot than right here in the center of the city," Bianchi said. "This is awe inspiring."
 
The ceremony also recognized the 138,000 soldiers since World War I to have gone missing in action or taken as a prisoner of war. A table was set up honoring prisoners of war and those who are missing in action. Vietnam veteran Tyrone Belanger explained the symbolism of the single table setting and each feature to it. The table and each piece remembers those MIA or POW. 
 
"Do not forsake them. Pray for them and remember them," Belanger said. 
 
Also part of Saturday's slate of events was Berkshire Bank Foundation donating $7,000 to Soldier On. Berkshire Bank's Lori Gazzillo and Cory Bazinet, a veteran who now works for Berkshire Insurance Group, presented the check to Cleveland. Gazzillo said the bank not only sponsors the flags but launched a financing package for veterans and donates to Soldier On for each account. This year that led to $7,000, which is $2,000 more than the bank donated last year.
 
"We thought this was a great event and a great way to recognize our veterans," Gazzillo said.
 
The 45-minute ceremony drew a crowd number close to 100. Jack Nogueira and Cleveland served as the masters of ceremony, Mary Verdi sang patriotic songs, the Dalton American Legion performed taps and a gun salute. 
 
"This is what America is all about," Nogueira said.
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