Amherst Cemetery

We were impressed by the range of relevant, dynamic projects in this round of applications," Executive Director Brian Boyles said. "Organizations around Massachusetts are responding to their communities through new approaches to the humanities. They're asking big questions, reaching new audiences and shedding new light on our shared history and culture."The National Endowment for the Humanities-affiliated non-profit has distributed approximately $475,000 during 2018 to a variety of humanities projects.In the latest round, Western Mass recipients included Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst which received $14,500 for an oral history project and exhibit examining the lives and experiences of black residents during the second half of the 20th Century.Eggtooth Productions was awarded $7,500 for support a two-day event in Turners Falls focusing on issues of race, age, gender, religion, class and cultural identity that has been surppressed.The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights Institute received $12,209 for a teachers institute on the holocaust, genocide and human rights to be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. The UMass Amherst Labor Center received $15,000 for a film project to, "help local workers see their work lives as worthy of attention and part of a historic trajectory in which they are agents," according to the agency. The event includes a three-day digital storytelling workshop, conference and website showcasing the videos. Greater Boston recipients receiving fundind were: the UMass Boston CANALA Institute was awared $14,047 for a five-day summer teacher workshop "highlighting historic sites in Boston where communities of color struggled for recognition and inclusion in the social contract," the agency announced. Those communities include Deer Island, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, Chinatown's Quincy Grammer School and Villa Victoria.Interlock Media in Cambridge received an award of $13,500 to support distribution of a documentary film called "CodeSwitching" explor...

S. Department of Veterans Affairs has honored veterans by working with community and veterans’ service organization volunteers to place holiday wreaths at VA national cemeteries in remembrance of the military branches and veterans’ service and sacrifice for the nation.Many state-run cemeteries followed suit, as was done in Rhode Island’s veterans cemetery, in Exeter, two weeks ago."The ceremonial wreaths pay tribute to our armed services and demonstrate the gratitude the country feels for those who have served," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.The Worcester Wreath Company, in Maine, through a campaign called Wreaths Across America (www.wreathsacrossamerica.org), began providing holiday wreaths for veterans’ graves in Arlington National Cemetery in 2006. Since then, the program has grown to include volunteer fundraising and wreath donations for placement on veterans’ graves at VA, state veteran and private cemeteries. Ponaganset High School held its own well-attended wreath memorial service for veterans and veterans’ groups last week.Community and veterans’ service organization volunteers coordinated ceremonies and activities at more than 120 VA national cemeteries, and all 136 VA national cemeteries received at least seven wreaths from the Worcester Wreath Company, one for each military service branch. In addition, wreaths were provided for Merchant Marines, prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA).The mission of the National Cemetery Administration is to honor veterans and their eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines, with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to the nation. For more information on VA national cemeteries, follow NCA on Twitter @https://twitter.com/VANatCemeteries, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalCemeteries.Providence VA office presents three awardsThe Downtown Providence VA Regional Office, supported by community partners across Rhode Island, presented awards to three Rhode Islan...