>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT: LAST WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN HISTORY, AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF A PHOTOJOURNALIST.

>> WHAT HE SAID RESONATED WITH ME CONCERNING IMMIGRANTS, NOT SEEING THAT, IN A SENSE, MISSING FROM OUR SOCIETY, HENCE THE MISSING STARS ON THE FLAG.

>> TWO PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CONTINENTS COME TOGETHER TO HONOR THE DEATH OF A LOCAL WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN.

>> GENE'S ASSASSINATION WAS WITNESSED BY RESIDENTS AND IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE WAR, THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.

>> AND MASSACHUSETTS MOVES CLOSER TO A NEW STATE SEAL.

>> THE SYMBOLS ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PRESENT AND WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE.

>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> SUPPORT FOR CONNECTING POINT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTING POINT.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAPPENED AMID A PANDEMIC AND AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A VIOLENT SIEGE ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING A WEEK BEFOREHAND.

AS A RESULT, THE SWEARING IN OF AMERICA'S NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN HISTORY.

NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA CORRESPONDENT PHOTOJOURNALIST BARRY GOLDSTEIN WAS ON THE GROUND IN THE CAPITOL TO CAPTURE THE MOOD LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE INAUGURATION.

THE RESULT IS "DIVIDED: SCENES FROM INAUGURATION 2021," A CONNECTING POINT DIGITAL-EXCLUSIVE SERIES AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW AT NEPM.ORG.

THROUGH DOCUMENTARY, PHOTOGRAPHY, PORTRAITURE AND INTERVIEWS, GOLDSTEIN CONVEYS THE SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY AND DIVISION SURROUNDING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRADITIONS IN OUR REPUBLIC.

HE SPOKE WITH ME RECENTLY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, THIS WAS, LET'S SEE, MY THIRD INAUGURATION THAT I'VE COVERED, AND OF COURSE IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS ONES WHICH FEATURED CROWDS, VERY FESTIVE.

FIRST OFF, THE CAPITAL WAS SURROUNDED BY THE SO-CALLED GREEN ZONE WITH A BUFFER PERHAPS HALF A MILE OR SO, COMPLETELY SURROUNDING THE CAPITOL, THE MALL, THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

THERE WERE RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH TO SEE OTHER THAN A LOT OF YOUNG NATIONAL GUARDS TROOPS.

>> FROM THE IMAGES THAT YOU CAPTURED, THE CROWDS THAT GATHERED SEEMED OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

YOU DID ENCOUNTER ANY SUPPORTERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

>> I DID.

ONCE IN THREE DAYS.

I SAW A GROUP OF PEOPLE UNMASKED, WHO LOOKED LIKE TOURISTS.

A GROUP OF BURLY MEN WITH HIGH AND TIGHT HAIRCUTS AND I DID STOP AND ASK THEM IF THEY WERE HERE FOR THE INAUGURATION, AND THEY SAID, YES.

I ASKED IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND INTERVIEWED AND THEY ASKED BY WHOM AND I SAID NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA AND THEY SAID DEFINITELY NOT AND CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY.

SO I MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WERE NOT BIDEN SUPPORTERS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, DIDN'T SEE ANYONE WHO WAS AN OVERTRUMP SUPPORTER.

AND I AND I I THINK EVERY OTHER JOURNALIST THERE LOOKED HARD BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRY TO GETS A MANY POINTS OF VIEW AS WE CAN.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PHOTOS, ONE THAT WAS STRIKING TO ME WAS FROM MEXICO, HAD WHAT RESEMBLED A FLAG AND WAS MISSING SOME STARS AND IT WAS A COMMENTARY ON IMMIGRATION.

HE WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE LACKING AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY RESONATES WITH US.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE IMAGES OF THE ONES YOU CAPTURED OF THE INAUGURATION.

>> USUALLY THE RUN OF ROBERTO IS A FAVORITE OF MINE.

WHAT HE SAID RESONATED WITH ME, CONCERNING IMMIGRANTS, THE PRESENCE OF IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE SUCH, THEY ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE, THEY'RE NOT SEEN, THEY ARE IN A SENSE MISSING FROM OUR SOCIETY, HENCE THE MISSING STARS ON THE FLAG.

IN TERMS OF OTHER FAVORITE IMAGES, THIS IS A SERIES OF THREE IMAGES.

THESE IMAGES SORT OF PERSONIFY THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF BEING AN AMERICAN AND WHAT IT IS LIKE.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERVIEWS TALK ABOUT THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN D.C. AND THE THREATENING ATMOSPHERE.

IN FACT, I LIT THIS PHOTO TO SORT OF EMPHASIZE THAT.

WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE AND STARTED TALKS TO THE SOLDIERS, I NOTICED TWO THINGS.

MOST OF THE SOLDIERS DID NOT HAVE WEAPONS.

I PHOTOGRAPHED THESE TWO BECAUSE THEY DID AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH ME.

THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO SAY VERY MUCH.

THEY COULD TELL ME WHAT STATE THEY WERE FROM BUT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT IT THIS IS THE PERFORMANCE ARTIST "CRACK HEAD BARNEY" HOLDING A DEAD RAT SHE PICKED UP ON THE STREET.

I LIKE THAT, IT IS COLORFUL AND PROBABLY THE AND THINK THE A PHOTOJOURNALIST WITH COVERAGE.

THE NEXT IMAGE IS HER DOING HER THING, CONFRONTING THE GUARDS PEOPLE AT ONE OF THE GREEN ZONE SITES.

A INCOUPLE THINGS ABOUT THIS, NOT SO MUCH THIS IMAGE BUT THIS EXPERIENCE REALLY PERSONIFIED TO ME WHAT THIS INAUGURATION WAS ABOUT AND WHAT LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT.

YOU HAD THESE RATHER THREATENING-LOOKING SOLDIERS AT FIRST GLIMPSE, BUT ON SECOND VIEW, THEY'RE NOT ARMED, THEY'RE VERY YOUNG, THEY'RE, OF COURSE, ALL MASKED AND THERE IS THIS VERY STRANGE PERSON WHO HAS DECIDED TO CONFRONT THEM ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

>> SO, GUYS, WHERE WILL ALL OF YOU GUYS, CAPITOL.

>> NOT A GOOD QUESTION.

ALBEIT POSED BY AN UNUSUAL PERSON.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT BEING IN AMERICA IS ABOUT, THE ABILITY TO CONFRONT AUTHORITY LITERALLY IN THEIR FACES.

SECONDLY, THE SOLDIERS TOOK IT.

THEY STOOD THERE, YOU CAN SEE THIS YOUNG WOMAN IS SURPRISED AND TRYING HARD TO MAINTAIN HER COMPOSURE, BUT AT NO TIME DID THEY ADOPT A THREATENING POSTURE.

THEY SIMPLY STOOD THERE.

THEN, OF COURSE, THE THIRD PART OF ALL THIS IS THERE IS A SLAW W OF OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS AND JOURNALISTS AROUND THEM RECORDING THIS, THIS IS THE THIRD PART OF LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE FREE TO DO THAT.

>> WHILE YOU WERE AT THE INAUGURATION, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEETS AND SPEAK WITH OTHER JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE, LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS.

>> THEY REALLY OFFERED SOME VERY INTERESTING AND FASCINATING VIEWS.

SOME OF THEM A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN I EXPECT AND A FEW SOMEWHAT PESSIMISTIC.

FOR EXAMPLE, SARA BAXTER AND HER PHOTOGRAPHER HUSBAND WHO HAVE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF WAR ZONES, GAZA, BOSNIA, REMARKED ABOUT HOW D.C.

LOOKED SOMEWHAT LIKE A WAR ZONE, HOW OFF PUTTING THAT WAS.

BUT, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THEIR TAKE ON THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6 AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE, SARA MENTIONED THAT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES WERE CHALLENGED BUT THAT THEY HELD.

AND I THINK IN HER WORDS SHE SAID AMERICA IS STILL AMERICA.

>> MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS.

THANK YOU, AMERICA.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE IMAGES AND INTERVIEWS THAT BARRY GOLDSTEIN CAPTURED AT THE INAUGURATION IN OUR DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE SERIES "DIVIDED: SCENES FROM INAGURATION 2021," AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

SINCE HIS DEATH IN 1944, PITTSFIELD NATIVE EUGENE KALINOWSKY HAS BEEN KNOWN AS ONE OF THOUSANDS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE DURING WORLD WAR II.

THE STORY OF A PLANE CRASH AND HIS SUBSEQUENT DEATH HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.

BUT, RECENTLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LAST MOMENTS OF KALINOWSKY'S LIFE WERE FAR DIFFERENT THAN BOTH HIS COUNTRY AND HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.

CONNECTING POINT'S ROSS LIPPMAN TELLS US THE TRUE STORY OF HIS FINAL MISSION AND HOW IT'S BROUGHT TOGETHER TWO PEOPLE WANTING TO KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.

>> THIS MAKES MY EYES WATER.

>> EVERY DECEMBER, JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, CAROL BROOKS COMES TO THE PITTSFIELD CEMETERY.

>> JUST OVER BY THE TREES.

A FUNERAL IS GOING ON.

>> CAROL COULD SPEND ALL DAY.

>> MY FATHER, MY MOTHER.

>> IN THE COLD.

>> SHE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL MOM, WONDERFUL.

MY SISTER ANN, SHE IS 6 YEARS OLDER THAN MYSELF.

>> TELLING STORIES ABOUT EACH PERSON.

>> THEY ARE AT PEACE.

THAT'S THE MARIJUANA THING.

>> BUT, TODAY SHE IS HERE TO VISIT A RELATIVE SHE DIDN'T KNOLL.

>> JUST ALWAYS THOUGHT OF HIM AS BEING OUR YOU THINK TALE WAS KILLED IN THE -- OUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HE WILL K HE WILL UNCLE THAT WS KILLED IN THE PLANE CRASH.

>> MAYBE THE GREATEST STORY SHE CAN TELL.

>> WAS ONLY 24 WHEN HE DIED.

>> OCTOBER 15, 1944, GENE WAS ON HIS 50s AND FINAL MISSION WHEN HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN BY NAZI GERMAN FORCES.

INITIAL REPORTS SAID THAT OF THE 10 MAN CREW TWO DIED WHILE EVACUATING THE PLANE, INCLUDING KALINOWSKY.

>> FOR YEARS THE BELIEF AND THE STORY HAD BEEN THAT THE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND THAT'S HOW HE DIED 8 CORRECT?

>> RIGHT 2456789'S HOW I UNDERSTOOD IT.

THAT IS HOW I WAS ALWAYS TOLD AND I THINK THAT'S HOW THEY THOUGHT OF IT, TOO.

>> GENE SURVIVED THE LANDING AND WAS DISCOVERED BY SS SOLDIERS NEAR THE GERMAN VILLAGES.

CAROL ONLY LEARNED HOW HER UNCLE TRULY DIED JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> AFTER HE HAD LANDED AND THEY WERE TAKING HIM TO SOME TYPE OF A HOLDING PLACE, HE WAS SHOT BY A GERMAN SOLDIER, AN SS SOLDIER.

>> HE DIES SERVING DURING WORLD WAR II.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE STORY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS WAS THE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND HE DIED IN THE PLANE CRACK, THEN YOU FIND OUT AN SS OFFICER IN FACT, KILL YOUR UNCLE.

WHAT WAS THAT MEDIA GUT FEELING YOU HAD.

>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF 2 WAS TRUE.

>> IT WAS TRUE.

GENE'S AIS AS NATION WAS WITNESSED BY RESIDENTS IN LOBENHEIM AND THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE WAR, THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.

INCLUDING THIS PAST FALL, 76 YEARS LATER, WHEN CAROL LEARNED OF PLANS TO CRY CREASE AT A ML FOR GENE -- TO CREATE A MEMORIAL FOR GENE.

>> TO COMMEMORATE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR YOU THINK KNEEL IT WOULD BE MY UNCLE'S 100th BIRTHDAY AND NEAR THE END OF THE 2nd WORLD WAR.

>> IT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME CAROL LEARNED THE TRUTH BEHIND GENE'S DEATH SHE WAS CONTACTED BY SOMEONE IN GERMANY.

HE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GENE'S LIFE AND MAKES SURE THE REAL STORY WAS KNOWN.

JUST AS HE FOUND CAROL -- YOU WANT TO TAP THAT TO TURN YOUR CAMERA ON, WE WANTED TO FIND HIM.

HI.

TODAY DATE, HUH?

>> TODAY IS THE DAY.

>> AND GIVE TWO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SO USED TO ZOOM OR VIDEO CHATTING.

>> HE'LL TURN HIS CAMERA ON IN A MINUTE.

>> A CHANCE TO MEET FACE-TO-FAC FACE-TO-FACE.

>> YEAH, HELLO.

>> HELLO.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> I TAKE IT YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN US.

>> NO.

>> LIVE.

>> NOT LIVE.

IT IS NICE TO SEE A FACE THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO FOR A WHILE.

>> HOW LONG HAVE THE TWO OF YOU BEEN E-MAILING WITH EACH OTHER BEFORE TODAY?

>> SINCE 2016.

I TOLD HIM I WAS A BABY WHEN MY UNCLE LEFT FOR GERMANY, AND THAT HE HAD TAKEN MY BABY SHOES AND PUT THEM AROUND HIS NECK FOR GOOD LUCK.

SO I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF FELT A BOND TO HIM THAT WAY.

>> AND THIS WAS LUCK FOR ME TO CONTACT CAROL AND THE FAMILY SO THAT IT WILL BE ALIVE AND ACTUALLY.

>> YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS STORY LIVE ON, CORRECT?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE MUST LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY.

LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE FROM THE PAST.

AND WE MUST LEARN WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THAT THIS NEVER MAY HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP GROWS FROM HERE, AS WELL.

I THINK IT IS VERY EXCITING.

>> LIKE I SAID, I HAVE FRIENDS, I HAVE A FRIEND IN GERMANY.

>> ME, TOO.

ME, TOO.

THE WHOLE FAMILY, TOO.

>> THE WHOLE FAMILY.

OKAY.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE AND LEARN MORE OF EUGENE KALINOWSKI'S STORY IN A DIGITAL EXTRA AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED A BILL THAT TAKES A BIG STEP TOWARD CHANGING THE STATE'S OFFICIAL SEAL AND MOTTO.

THIS COMES AFTER YEARS OF CONCERNS FROM NATIVE AMERICAN RESIDENTS, AS THE CURRENT SEAL SHOWS A HAND HOLDING A SWORD OVER THE HEAD OF A NATIVE AMERICAN.

THE NEW BILL CREATES A COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND CHANGES TO THE STATE SEAL AND MOTTO, AND CONNECTING POINT'S RAY HERSHEL TALKED TO THE BILL'S SPONSOR IN THE HOUSE, NORTHAMPTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDSAY SABADOSA, ABOUT WHY SHE FEELS A CHANGE TO THE STATE SEAL IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS SO REALLY WE'RE COMING UP ON THE TAIL END OF 30 YEARS THAT TEAM HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS BILL, SO I WAS VERY GRATEFUL THAT ALL THAT GROUND WORK HAD BEEN LAID, IT MADE IT MUCH EASIER TO TALK TO COLLEAGUES.

BUT, HONESTLY, WE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

WE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS, BOTH WITH SPEAKER DELIO AND THEY BE WITH SPEAKER MARIANO AND WE HAD A CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS WHO REALLY UNDER STOOD THE LEGISLATION FROM DAY ONE.

WE HAD ORGANIZED A CALL WITH THEM TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM TO FOR IT AND HE STARTED THE CALL OFF SAYING HE REALLY UNDER STOOD IT, THE SEMIBOLLS OF THE PAST ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PRESENT AND WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THOSE.

WE ALSO HAD A COMMITTED CHAIR WORK FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND OVER SIDE ECONOMY AND VERY WAS GREAT ALONG THE WAY.

SHE KEPT DIRECTING US TO NEW PEOPLE TO TALK TO.

IN THE END WE SPOKE TO OVER A HUNDRED LEGISLATORS ON THE HOUSE SIDE AND MADE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE BILL AND WE HAD THEIR SUPPORT AND AGE TO PASS IT PRETTY MUCH AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE.

I THINK IT WAS THE VERY LAST OR SECOND TO LAST PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT PASSED ON JANUARY 5, OR JANUARY 6, RATHER, AT 5:00 A.M. >> THE STATE SEAL AS IT CURRENTLY ECONOMISTED SHOWED A SWORD HANGING OVER THE HEAD OF A NATIVE AMERICAN, WITH THE MOTTO BY THE SWORD WE SEEK PEACE BUT PEACE ONLY UNDER LIBERTY WHY WAS THIS SO OFFENSIVE TO SO MANY?

>> THE SWORD THAT IS CURRENTLY DEPICTED ON THE STATE SEAL AND FLAG IS A SWORD USED TO BEHEAD ONE OF THE NATIVE LEADERS.

THE IMAGE ON THE NATIVE PERSON ON THE FLAGS A FRANKENSTEIN VERSION OF WHAT THE ARTIST DEEMED THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF WHAT A NATIVE SHOULD LOOK LIKE SO I THINK BY TODAY'S STANDARDS WE CAN AGREE THERE ARE BETTER SYMBOLS THAT COULD REPRESENT THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THIS LEGISLATION WILL SPEAK PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE, A COMMISSION THAT WILL LOOK AT WHAT OUR FLAG CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE WHAT OUR MODEL LOOKS LIKE.

WE CAN LOOK AT THE MANY EXAMPLES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY SEAL MASSACHUSETTS HAS EVER HAD IN STATE HOUSE YOU SEE A LONG LIST OF VARIOUS SEALS THAT REPRESENTED THE COMMONWEALTH AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.

WE WILL SEE WHAT SHOULD WE DO GOING FORWARD.

WE ARE IN A REALLY INTERESTING MOMENT BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER STATE, MISSISSIPPI VERY RECENTLY CHANGED ITS STATE FLAG, THEY WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THEY PUT TOGETHER A COMMISSION AND THEY EVENTUALLY WENT TO THE BALLOT TO ASK THE VOTER WHAT IS THEIR FLAG SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

THOUGH I DON'T THINK SO IF MASSACHUSETTS WILL GO THROUGH THAT -- THOUGH I DON'T THINK IF MASSACHUSETTS WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH THIS, PARTICULARLY AS WE HIT IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES.

LAST YEAR WAS THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PLYMOUTH COLONY THAN 10 YEARS WE WILL LOOK AT THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLIDAY AND THE GENERAL COURT.

IT IS EXCITING SO MANY PEOPLE WERE EAGER TO DO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS COMMISSION FORMED AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> AND WHO SPECIFICALLY WILL BE SITTING ON THIS COMMISSION.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEN THE COMMISSION ITSELF WON'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND A NEW SEAL, THAT MAY BE UP FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION EVEN THE PUBLIC HAVING INPUT.

>> EXACTLY, THE COMMISSION NOT GOING TO JUST COME OUT AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE FLAG SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR INPUT.

PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE COMMISSION FROM DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES SO THE MASS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, APPOINTEES BY THE SPEAKER, GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL.

REALLY AS WE WERE CRAFTING THE LEGISLATION AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHO SHOULD BE ON THE COMMISSION, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE A LOT OF NATIVE VOICES.

MASSACHUSETTS HAS A DEEP HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICANS NOT REALLY GETTING THEIR SAY IN OUR GOVERNMENT, AND NOT REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THESE WERE NATIVE LANDS, THE COLONY WAS FOUNDED ON NATIVE LANDS, I BELIEVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HERE.

WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS OUR CULTURE AND WHAT WE WANT TO REPRESENT US MOVING FORWARD.

>> THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS HAS SO MANY RIVERS THAT THE STATE'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE IS STILL PUTTING TOGETHER THE LIST.

FOR VISITORS, THESE WATERWAYS ARE NICE TO LOOK AT, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TOWNS IN WHICH THESE RIVERS FLOW, THEY CAN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT BODIES OF WATER IN THEIR WORLD.

CONNECTING POINT'S BRIAN SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO THE FRANKLIN COUNTY TOWNS OF ASHFIELD AND CONWAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SOUTH RIVER TO FIND OUT WHERE IT'S BEEN AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> THE ROADSIDE RIVER IS ONE OF THE MOTHER COMMON SIGHTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

CHILD THE CHARMS AND CONNECTICUT MAY CAR -- THE CHARLES AND CONNECTICUT MAY CARRY THE NAME RECOGNITION THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS SCATTERED ACROSS THE STATE.

MANY WATER WAYS WERE SIMPLY REFER TO AS THE MILL RIVER.

THE MILLS CHANGED THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE RIVERS TOING R INDUSTRIAL NEEDS.

AND THAT HE TOOK THEY TOA RESULT OF A HEAVY STORM.

THEY TOOK OUT CONWAY WHEN HURRICANE IRENE TOUCHED DOWN.

SINCE THEN, THIS RETAINING WALL HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PRODUCTS THAT ESTABLISH THE MEANDERING PATTERN AND WIDE BERTH TO AVOID FUTURE CATASTROPHES.

>> YOU SEE THE CHANGES IN THE RIVER SYSTEM, AND THE RIVER SYSTEM BECOMES MORE UNSTABLE.

IF YOU GET A HEAVY RAIN EVENT LIKE TROPICAL STORM IRENE, THE RIVER DOESN'T HAVE THE ROOM THAT IT NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT RAINFALL.

AND SO WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS EROSION, YOU END UP WITH FLOODING, YOU END UP WITH, AGAIN, ROADS AND BUSINESSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE THREATENED BY THIS.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS WORK IS RECREATE THE NATURAL SYSTEM THAT OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS HAS BEEN REALLY DISRESPECTED.

>> IN A MAJOR STEP TO MITIGATE THAT DISRUPTION, ONLY A STONE'S THROW FROM CONWAY CENTER, THEY PARTNERED TO DO A RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT AS THE SOUTH MEADOW.

IT IS AN 11-ACRE PLOT OF LAND WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TO WALK, DO BIRD WATCHING OR HAVE A SEAT TO WATCH AND LISTEN AS THE RIVER CURVES AROUND THE PROPERTY AND CONTINUES ALONG THE ROADWAY.

THE SOUTH RIVER MEADOW IN CONWAY IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT GONE RIGHT.

THIS AREA IN TECH WHERE THE GRADE DROPS DOWN A COUPLE OF FEET FROM THE REST OF THE FIELD AND CONTINUES TO SLOPE TOWARDS THE WATER COMES IN PRETTY HANDY IN THE SPRINGTIME WHEN ALL THIS SNOW AND ICE MELTS OFF.

>> WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT.

IT HAS BEEN RESTORED ALL ALONG THE EDGES.

THE INVASIVE PLANTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, WE IS HUGE.

IT IS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT IN PROCESS FOR WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO WITH THEIR OWN LAND, AND IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THIS WAS THE TOWN LAND THIS WAS WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE FIRST MAJOR PROJECT.

>> THAT POINT OF PRIDE CARRIED A PRICE TAG IN THE $300,000 RANGE.

AS WAS MENTIONED, THEY WOULD LIKE THIS PROJECT TO DEMONSTRATE TO PRIVATE LAND OWNERS ALONG ROUTE 116 FROM, AFIELD TO CONWAY, SOMETHING THEY MAY CONSIDER DOING TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY.

AS WITH ANYTHING, IT COMES DOWN TO DOLLARS AND SENSE.

>> THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO AT ONE CHUNK.

AND THEY ARE DIFFICULT PROJECTS SO THEY DON'T GET DONE AND DON'T GET DONE AND WE ARE STILL IN DANGER.

>> ALL THAT PIECEMEAL WORK COULD BE UNDONE WITH A BREECH AT THE ASHFIELD LAKE.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.

IT IS THISSEN ARE EARTHEN DAM WHICH, WHEN ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED, WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

BUT TO KEEP IT UP, IT WILL COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THAT PRICE TAG IS LIKELY TOO STEEP FOR THE LOCAL RIVER GROUPS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

IF THEY REALLY WANT TO PROTECT WHAT CONTEXTED THE TWO TOWNS.

>> THE STATE WILL COME IN LIKE THEY DID IN 1990 AND DO ALL THE RESTORATION THEMSELVES.

BUT IN TODAY'S CLIMATE OF SHARING COSTS I IMAGINE THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 10 TO 25% OF THE COST OF THE REHAB.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR JANUARY 29TH, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> SUPPORT FOR CONTEXTING POINT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING