>>> COMING UP NEXT, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

WE PAY A VISIT TO A LOCAL DAIRY FARM THAT'S BEEN SERVING THE AREA FOR 215 YEARS.

>> THE DAIRY SUPPLY CHAIN IS VERY FAST AND CLEAN AND EFFICIENT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S SUPER LOCAL, BECAUSE MILK IS SO PERISHABLE.

>> THE HATFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY ENGAGES STUDENTS TO CHRONICLE THE HISTORY OF THE COLD PANDEMIC.

>> THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW HARD THIS WAS FOR HIM.

LIKE THE HONESTY AND IN THAT AND THAT -- REALLY REALLY COMES THROUGH IN THEIR WORK.

>>> AND WE REMEMBER A TRAGIC LOSS ON MT.

TOM THAT OCCURRED 75 YEARS AGO TODAY.

>> ON THE ROCK WALL ADJACENT TO THE MONUMENT, HIKERS HAVE PILED WRECKAGE FROM THE PLANE THAT'S STILL BEING FOUND IN SURROUNDING WOODS.

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

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTING POINT.

I'M SILD.

-- ZYDALIS BAUER.

NEW ENGLAND IS HOME TO OVER 1,000 DAIRY FARMS.

NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH, A CAMPAIGN THAT HAPPENS EVERY JUNE, WAS INITIALLY CREATED IN 1937 TO PROMOTE DRINKING MILK AND HAS NOW DEVELOPED INTO AN ANNUAL TRADITION THAT CELEBRATES THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

WHILE THAT INDUSTRY HAS SEEN A DECLINE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MANY FARMS STILL CARRY ON THE TRADITION, AND PRODUCER DAVE PUGLISI VISIT -- DAVE FRASER VISITED ONE IN SOUTH HADLEY TO LEARN HOW IT HAS SURVIVED FOR THE PAST TWO 15 YEARS.

>> DAIRY FARMING IS A 7 DAY-A-WEEK, 365 DAY-A-YEAR JOB.

OVER THE LAST HALF-SEN TRI, NEW ENGLAND HAS LOST MORE THAN SEN,000 -- 10,000 DAIRY FARMS AND 2,000 OF MASSACHUSETTS' FARMS HAVE CLOSED DOWN.

THERE ARE ABOUT 125 DAIRY FARMS LEFT IN THE COMMONWEALTH WITH MOST BEING IN WESTERN MASS.

PART OF THE SEVENTH GENERATION TO WORK ON HER FAMILY'S FARM IN SOUTH HADLEY.

>> WE STARTED OUT AS A CROP FARM.

THE HADLEY STAPLES, ASPAIR GUS, SQUASH.

WE TRANSITIONED TO FULL DAIRY AND OUR HERD HAS GROWN OVER TIME.

WE CURRENTLY ARE MILKING 300 COW AND 600 HEADS.

>> THE FARM'S MOD WROTE -- MOTTO HAS BEEN LOOKING FORWARD SINCE TEEN 8 -- SINCE 1806, A PHRASE THEY KEEP IN MIND AS THEY CONTINUE TO INNOVATE.

IN 2008 THEY OPENED THE DAIRY STORE AND BAKERY TO DIVERSIFY THEIR BUSINESS AND OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE SHOP FEATURES HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS, PREPARED GOODS FOR PURCHASE, AND OF COURSE, A WIDE VARIETY OF DAIRY PRODUCTS.

>> WE HAVE THAT AS OUR FORWARD-FACING PUBLIC FARM STAND.

AND WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T RELY ON THE PUBLIC AS MUCH BUT WAS STILL REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE AN ANKEROIC DIGEST TER.

IT MAKES -- DIGESTER.

IT TURNS THE COW WASTE AND POWERS 1600 HOMES.

>> THE FARM IS ONE OF 800 THAT'S PART OF THE CABOT COOPERATIVE.

EVERY OTHER DAY MILK FROM THE FARM IS TRUCKED TO THE PROCESSING PLANT IN WEST SPRINGFIELD.

AND ACCORDING TO BARSTOW, MILK THAT LEAVES THE FARMER CAN BE PROCESSED AND IN THE STORE IN 48 HOURS.

>> THE DAIRY SUPPLY CHAIN IS VERY FAST AND CLEAN AND EFFICIENT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S SUPER LOCAL BECAUSE MILK IS SO PERISHABLE.

SO THESE PLANTS ARE SET UP TO MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, FROM COTTAGE CHEESE AND WHIPPED CREAM TO BUTTER AND FLUID MILK AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT BRANDS.

RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY.

>> THE HOLSTEIN IS THE MAIN BREED OF CAREY -- DAIRY CAT UNTIL THE UNITED STATES AND IT MAKES UP THE HERD AT BARSTOW'S LONGVIEW FARM.

COWS ARE MILK ROW BOUGHTICALLY.

THEY USE -- ROW BOUGHTICALLY.

THEY USE SENSORS TO IDENTIFY EACH COW TO MAKE SURE NO ONE COW IS VISITING TOO OFTEN OR NOT ENOUGH.

>> WE HAVE FIVE ROCK -- ROBOTIC WORKERS FOR OUR HEARD OF PERIOD -- HERD OF 300.

WE USED TO MILK THEM DEVICE A DAY.

TAKES ABOUT FOUR HOURS AL TOLD EACH TIME.

SO EIGHT HOURS WAS JUST MILKING COWS.

SOME OF THEM ARE MILKINGS TWO TIMES A DAY OR FIVE TIMES A DAY.

EVERY DAIRY FARMER KNOWS THAT A COMFORTABLE COW IS A HAPPY COW WHO'S GOING TO PRODUCE MORE MILK AND BETTER QUALITY MILK.

>> NEW ENGLAND DARRENY FARMERS HAVE -- DAIRY FARMERS HAVE.

CONTROL OVER THE PRICES, BUT FOR CONSUMERS LOCAL DAIRY PURCHASES DO MORE THAN JUST KEEP BUSINESSES AFLOAT.

THEY MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENSURE A RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM, AND RESERVE -- PRESERVE LOCAL HERITAGE.

>> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES HAVING LOCAL AGRICULTURE INCLUDING LOCAL DAIRY, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE MOSH FARMS IN THE AREA, WE HAVE BETTER CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE ABOUT THE FOOD SECURITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONLY GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GO FORWARD.

>>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE CELEBRATES A FAVORITE NEW ENGLAND SUMMERTIME VACATION DESTINATION, THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED ON AUGUST 7TH, 1961, BY PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND IS CELEBRATING ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE TO IT THE CAPE YOURSELF THIS YEAR V NO FEAR.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES US THERE IN SHOULD VIDEO ESSAY.

DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ABLE ONLIGHT RYAN -- ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> HALF THE HATFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZED THEY ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF RECORDS FROM THE SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC, THEY DECIDED TO LAUNCH A WEBSITE TO COLLECT STORIES AND ARTIFACTS FROM RESIDENTS LIVING IN HATFIELD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

I SPOKE WITH MEGUEY BAKER, THE COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT FOR THE HATFIELD HISTORICAL MUSEUM, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS COLLECTION AND TO ALSO HEAR HOW A GROUP OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR STORIES AS WELL.

>> KATHY IS CURATOR AND WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN IN MARCH OF 2020, WE HAD TO STAY HOME.

AND SO IT WAS THROUGH BITS OF EMAIL AND TEXTING AND SO ON, BUT REALLY KATHY'S INITIATIVE AS A CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM TO REALIZE THAT WE WERE LIVING IN HISTORIC TIMES AND TO PUT UP THIS WEBSITE TO COLLECT THOSE STORIES OF HOW PEOPLE IN AND AROUND HATFIELD ARE DEALING WITH IT.

SO THERE'S THINGS UP THERE THAT ARE ARTWORK THAT PEOPLE DID OR HAIKU THAT PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN OR JUST REFLECTIONS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE LIVING IN HATFIELD ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GETTING THROUGH.

>> ONE AREA THAT HAS BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN EDUCATION.

AND A GROUP OF 36 STUDENTS FROM THE HATFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARTICIPATED IN A YEAR-LONG PROJECT TITLED, MY HISTORY, THAT ADDS THEIR EXPERIENCE TO THIS COVID-19 PROJECT.

HOW DID THIS PROJECT COME ABOUT?

>> THIS STARTED WITH KATHY TALKING TO -- TEACHERS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS CONVENIENTLY PRETTY MUCH ACROSS A BIG LAWN FROM THE MUSEUM.

SO KATHY TALKED TO TWO OF THE TEACHERS THERE, JENNY AND MEGAN, WHO ARE SIXTH GRADE TEACHERS TO BE REALLY FORTHRIGHT.

THIS IS AMAZING TIMES.

THIS IS HISTORY PROJECT THAT THEY DO IN SIXTH GRADE.

USUALLY IT INVOLVES INTERVIEWING SOMEONE ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD OR RESEARCHING A TIME IN HISTORY THAT THE STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN.

BUT THE TEACHERS AND KATHY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RIGHT NOW IS A TIME OF HISTORY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BUNCH OF SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS COLLECT THE IMAGES AND DATA AND STORIES OF THEIR VOICES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE IS JUST AMAZING.

>> THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT IS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FOR MANY OF US.

YOU MET WITH THE STUDENTS WHEN THEY VISITED THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

WHAT GUIDANCE OR SUPPORT DID THEY RECEIVE FOR THIS HISTORY PROJECT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME IS THE WORK THAT THE TEACHERS AND ALSO OF COURSE THE PARENTS WHEN THE STUDENTS WERE LEARNING AT HOME, TO USE EVERY AVENUE POSSIBLE TO HELP THE STUDENTS COLLECT THEIR STORIES AND TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT TO CONTEXTUALIZE THEIR EXPERIENCES IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED THEM TO THINK MORE ANALYTICALLY ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH AND REALLY REFLECT WHAT MATTERED AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO CONVEY FORWARD TO PUT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT SOMEONE TO LOOK BACK ON A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW.

>> WHAT WERE THE STUDENTS' REACTIONS WHEN APPROACHED WITH THIS PROJECT?

WERE THEY ABLE TO REALLY FULLY GRASP THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT AND REFLECT ON THIS MOMENT THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN?

>> THEY REALLY WERE AWARE OF IT.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT SPEAKS TO THE TEACHERS, BUT IT ALSO VERY STRONGLY SPEAKS TO THE STUDENTS' ABILITY TO STEP UP AND RECOGNIZE.

LIKE OH, THIS IS BIG, BECAUSE THE SORT OF BREADTH OF THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, RANGING FROM HOW DO I PUT MORE KINDNESS IN THE WORLD WHEN I AM UNABLE TO BE AROUND EVERYONE, AND HOW DO I DOCUMENT WHAT MY FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH.

THERE WERE STUDENTS WHO WERE REALLY, REALLY AWARE OF POLITICAL MOVEMENTS GOING ON THROUGH 2020 AND THROUGH 2021.

LOOKING AT THE WIDER WORLD AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND REALLY CONNECTING THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES TO THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

>> YOU WERE JUST TOUCHING ON THE BREADTH OF THE WORK OF THESE STUDENTS AND THE RANGE.

SOME ARE DIGITAL IMAGES, VIDEOS, POSTERS, THE ACTS OF KINDNESS.

WHICH SUBMISSION HAS REALLY STOOD OUT TO YOU THE MOST?

>> GOODNESS.

THAT -- THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE SAYING CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE KILLED.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT OVER AND OVER, TWO THEMES ARE REALLY TOUCHED ME WITH THE THEME OF KINDNESS AND CARE AND THE -- THE SENSE THAT THEY HAD THAT THEY WERE PART OF SOMETHING, THAT THEY HAD A DESIRE FOR THIS TO SEND A MESSAGE FORWARD, YOU KNOW.

THE AWARENESS THAT THESE SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS HAD OF HOW MIGHT THIS HELP SOMEONE A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW.

AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW HARD THIS WAS FOR THEM.

LIKE THE HONESTY IN THAT AND THAT REALLY -- REALLY COMES THROUGH IN THEIR WORK.

THOSE TWO THINGS, THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE BECAUSE THIS WAS HARD.

>> ONE OF THE PHOTOS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE WAS THE SIGN OF THE SMITH ACADEMY, WITH THE RETURN TO SCHOOL DATE CONTINUOUSLY PUSHED BACK AND IT FELT LIKE WE HAD SO MUCH HOPE THAT SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE BACK IN SESSION.

WHICH PHOTO DO YOU THINK WILL BE ICONIC YEARS FROM NOW THAT REALLY ENCAPSULATES THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH?

>> WOW.

THAT'S -- THAT'S -- A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

THE IMAGE OF A MASKED FACE AND THE LITTLE SIGNS WE SEE EVERYWHERE THAT SAYS, SIX FEET DISTANCE, KEEP SIX FEET DISTANCE.

AND THE PHRASE, SOCIAL DISTANCING," IS SO -- SO POTENT, DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HISTORICALLY RELEVANT.

PICTURES OF A ZOOM SCREEN IS GOING TO BE REALLY RELEVANT.

BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF LIKE AN IMAGE THAT CONVEYS THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT, FOR ME IS -- EMPTINESS WHERE THERE'S NOBODY PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND.

ANY OF THE IMAGE THAT IS KOON VATHE LONGING OF CONNECTION -- CONVEY THE LONGING OF CONNECTION.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT THE PAST AND ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN DOING SO AS WELL?

>> IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE ONLY SEE A KEY HOLE INTO HISTORY.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ENCAPSULATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED.

EVEN WITH A VERY WELL-DOCUMENTED PUBLIC EVENT.

IN BASIS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY WELL-DOCUMENTED PUBLIC EVENT.

BUT THE PRIVATE LIVED EXPERIENCE IS SO -- PUTS A WHOLE OTHER NUANCE IN IT.

SO MUCH MORE INFORMATIVE OF WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE THROUGH THIS TIME.

AND ESPECIALLY IN CONTEXT WITH WHAT YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF, RECOGNIZING THE ABSENCE OF THOSE PIECES IN THE 1918-1919 FLU PANDEMIC, THE CHANCE NOW TO CAPTURE THOSE AND KEEP THEM SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THOSE RECORDS GOING FORWARD, EVERY MUSEUM AROUND WAS AWARE OF THAT.

>> DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE PROUD OF THIS WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING?

>> I DO, YEAH.

I DO.

THIS PROJECT GAVE THEM A WAY TO PROCESS WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH WHILE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH IT.

THAT THEY HAD A FRAMEWORK.

THAT OH, THIS IS A THING THAT'S HAPPENING.

I HAVE A SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT THAT ADDRESSES THIS.

SO I FEEL LIKE THESE SPECIFIC CHILDREN WILL HAVE I HOPE -- WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE EASE COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND A LITTLE MORE RESILIENCE, BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE DONE PROCESSING OF THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, THIS IS WHAT MY TOWN WENT THROUGH, THIS IS WHAT I WENT THROUGH, THIS IS HOW I DOCUMENTED IT.

AND TO ME ONE OF THE MOST TELLING PIECES OF THAT IS WHERE A CHILD WROTE, YOU KNOW, I MADE NINE PIECES FOR THIS BUT I KEPT FIVE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO THEM THAT THEY KEEP IT FOR THEIR OWN HISTORY AS WELL.

¶ ¶ .

>>> 75 YEARS AGO TODAY, ON JULY 9TH, 1946, A CONVERTED P-17 FLYING FORTRESS PLANE RETURNING HOME FROM WORLD WAR II CRASHED INTO THE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF HOLYOKE'S MT.

TOM.

ALL ON BOARD WERE KILLED.

THE CRASH SITE WENT UNMARKED UNTIL 1994, WHEN A MONUMENT WAS CONSTRUCTED TO HONOR THE MEN WHO DIED ON THAT FLIGHT.

NOW EACH YEAR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS GATHERED AT THE MT.

TOM B-17 CRASH MEMORIAL TO PAY HOMAGE TO THOSE WHO WERE LOST.

AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

¶ [SINGING] ¶ >> EVERY YEAR IN JULY, A GROUP OF PEOPLE GATHER ON MT.

TOM TO RECOGNIZE THE LOSS OF 25 LIVES IN A PLANE CRASH THAT HAPPENED 75 YEARS AGO.

[AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] >> FIRST MEN FROM OVERSEAS CRASHES INTO MT.

TOM.

>> THE PLANE WAS A B-7 TEACH FLYING FORTRESS ON FINAL APPROACH.

IT WAS CARRYING 15 COAST GUARDS MEN, FOUR ARMY AIR CORPS SERVICEMEN, ONE RED CROSS OFFICIAL, AND ONE MEDICAL DOCTOR WHEN IT SLAMMED INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN OOPS, KILLING ALL -- MOUNTAIN, KILLING ALL ON BOARD.

>> BECAUSE THE WARRIORS, A LOT OF THE LIGHTS ON THE MOUNTAIN AND STUFF HAD BEEN TURNED OF ON.

SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GUIDE.

PLAINS DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT -- PLANES DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE TODAY FOR RADAR AND STUFF TO BE ABLE TO KNOW OR WHERE EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE.

ON A VERY EXTREMELY DARK NIGHT.

>> HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE MID '90S FOR THE CITY OF NORTH HAMPTON WHEN HE WAS APPROACHED WITH THE IDEA OF CONSTRUCTING A MONUMENT ON MT.

TOM TO RECOGNIZE THE MEN WHO DIED IN THE PLANE CRASH.

>> WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT UP HERE AND LOOKED OVER THE SITE AND TALKED ABOUT MAYBE PUTTING A LITTLE MARKER OR SOME TYPE ALONG THE TRAIL.

AND THEN AS I LIKED TO SAY, 17 OF THE BEST PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK -- WOODWORK ASKED CAN WE BE A PART OF IT -- >> NONE OF THE MEN WERE LOCAL.

MOST WERE SINGLE AND EAGER TO RETURN HOME FROM THE WAR TO PARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND FRIENDS.

>> MY UNCLE WAS ON THE PLANE THAT CRASHED HERE AT THE SITE IN IN 1946.

ALFRED LEONARD WARNED.

I WAS NAMED AFTER HIM.

I WAS COMING HERE ALL THESE YEARS TO HONOR MY UNCLE AND THE OTHER 25IES ON THE PLANE.

-- 25 GUYS ON THE PLANE.

FIRST WE CAME HERE 1995, 49 YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS STILL WRECKAGE ON THE GROUND.

NOW COMING HERE IT'S CHANGED FROM BEING A PLACE OF TRAGIC TO BE A PLACE OF BEAUTY AND LOVE.

THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE THIS, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE COME OUT IN DROVES EVERY YEAR FOR THE CEREMONY.

INITIALLY IT WAS JUST A FEW OF US, FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD COME OUT, AND NOW THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

¶ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ¶ [APPLAUSE] >> THE MEMORIAL SITE CONSISTS OF A GRAVEL PATH LINED WITH BIRCH TREES THAT LEADS TO A CIRCULAR ROCK LEDGE ENCLOSING A FLAT AREA IN FRONT OF A MONUMENT.

ON THE ROCK WALL ADJACENT TO THE MONUMENT, HIKERS HAVE PILED WRECKAGE FROM THE PLANE THAT IS STILL BEING FOUND IN THE SURROUNDING WOODS.

FOR ELLEN -- ALAN, THIS SITE IS A PLACE OF GREAT LOVE AND ALTHOUGH SHE NEVER MET HER UNCLE, HER MOTHER SHARED THE STORY OF HER AND HER SYBIL LINGS.

>> THE -- SIBLINGS.

>> THIS PLACE AND THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THIS MEMORIAL TRANSFORMED WHAT WAS A DEVASTATING TRAGEDY INTO A PLACE OF LOVING KINDNESS AND -- AND OUTREACH AND PROFOUND LOVE.

SO IT MEANT EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO HER, TO BE HERE.

AND WE CAME WITH HER EVERY YEAR.

WE LOST HER IN 2008.

FIVE WEEKS AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MARRIED HERE ON THIS PLACE.

AND WE WILL BE COMING HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

>> FRANK G. MARIAN.

ARTHUR C MILLER.

>> AS THE NAMES OF THE 25 WERE READ ALOUD, A B-17 BOMBER SLOWLY MADE A PASS OVER THE GATHERING OF PEOPLE.

[APPLAUSE] >> NEXT JULY THIS GROUP WILL GATHER AGAIN ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE IN HOLYOKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR LOVED ONES WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY BUT WHOSE LIVES WERE CUT WAY TOO SHORT.

>> THERE'S TWO STORIES HERE.

THE ONE STORY IS ABOUT THE 25 GUYS WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY AND THEN ON THEIR WAY HOME HAD THE ACCIDENT.

AND DIED ON THEIR WAY HOME.

AND THE OTHER STORY IS MANY YEARS LATER, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER OUT OF THEIR ALTRUISM, THEIR VOLUNTEERISM AND BUILDING THIS MEMORIAL AND HONORING THE 25 GUYS WHO DIED.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

IT'S REALLY WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.

HONORING THE VETERANS, HONORING THE FAMILIES.

PEOPLE THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

THE STRANGERS WHO THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO BROUGHT INTO THIS MEMORIAL.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

["TAPS" PLAYING] ¶ ¶ .

>>> UNIVERSALLY, GRANDMOTHERS TEND TO BE HELD IN HIGH REGARD AND PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN THE LIVES OF MANY FAMILIES.

THROUGH A GRANT AWARDED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, HOLYOKE MEDIA WILL PRESENT THE FOURTH ITERATION OF A MULTIMEDIA AND MULTI-CULTURAL EXHIBIT TITLED, "OUR GRANDMOTHERS."

WITH STORIES AND PHOTOS BEING SUBMITTED TO THE EXHIBIT BY ADULT GRANDCHILDREN, IT CELEBRATES THE INFLUENCE THESE GRANDMOTHERS HAVE HAD ON THEIR FAMILIES' LIVES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I SPOKE WITH WALESKAES THE EXHIBIT CURATOR, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE THESE STORIES.

>> THIS IS AN AMAZING PROJECT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 2007.

EVERY TIME IT'S DIFFERENT.

EVERY TIME WE HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW IT.

WE'RE CELEBRATING MOURNING, CRYING, AND LAUGHING WITH ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES AND ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL STORIES.

THIS ONE IS SPECIAL BECAUSE WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT ETHNICITY, TO PARTICIPATE.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LATINO OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A WOMAN.

IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE.

>> IT SEEMS THAT ACROSS ALL CULTURES, THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDCHILDREN IS VERY DEEP AND THIS RECENT ITERATION OF THIS EXHIBIT IS REALLY GOING TO SHOW THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT GRANDMOTHERS THAT JUST MAKE THEM SO SPECIAL?

>> AAH.

YOU KNOW, THIS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT MY OWN GRANDMOTHER.

SO THIS IS A REFLECTION.

I THINK GRANDMOTHERS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY.

IN MANY SOCIETIES.

I THINK THAT LEGACY, WE CARRY WITH US, SOMETIMES WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

SO THAT'S PART OF THIS PROJECT, THAT YOU GO THROUGH THAT.

AND REFLECT ON YOUR GRANDPARENTS AND SEE HOW MUCH YOU SEE THEM IN YOURSELF.

SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND ALSO, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING HERE ABOUT GRANDPARENTS.

TODAY IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE PARENTS AS WELL.

SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT IN THEIR EXHIBITION, I WANT ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCES, FROM THE GRANDMA THAT COULD COOK OR BAKE, A WONDERFUL -- YOU KNOW, CAKE FROM A GRANDMA THAT PROBABLY YOU DON'T KNOW.

PROBABLY YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT GRANDMA.

>> ONE STORY THAT WAS PARTICULARLY TOUCHING FOR ME WAS THAT OF THE GRANDMOTHER WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S AND DOESN'T REALLY RECOGNIZE HER DPRPB DAUGHTER ANYMORE.

-- GRANDDAUGHTER ANYMORE, BUT WHEN SHE RECEIVED A KISS FROM HER GRANDDAUGHTER, IT PUTS A SMILE ON HER FACE AND BRINGS THAT CAN THAT CONNECTION.

WHAT STORY HAS LEFT A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOU?

>> WE HAVE STORY -- WE HAVE MANY STORIES, BUT ONE OF THEM THAT TOUCHED MY SOUL IS WE HAVE A STORY FROM AN IMMIGRANT THAT SHE CANNOT TELL US HER NAME DUE TO IMMIGRATION LAWS.

AND THEN SHE WROTE ASYNONYMOUS AND WE -- ANONYMOUS AND WE -- CALLED HER SISTER OF GUATEMALA AND THE GRANDMOTHER WAS ABOUT TO BE 100 YEARS OLD, INDIGENOUS.

AND SHE WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK IF THE GRANDMA PASSED AWAY TO SEE HER.

AND THAT GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ONES THAT I RECEIVED.

BUT ALL OF THEM ARE POWERFUL.

WHEN I HAVE TO EDIT ALL THIS STORIES, I HAVE A BOX OF TISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES I CAN'T -- I CAN'T CONTAIN.

AND THEN GO BACK BECAUSE ALL OF THEM ARE EXPERIENCES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT TALKS ABOUT UNIVERSAL THEME THAT CONNECTS ALL OF US.

AND ALL OF THEM ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

ALL OF MY STORIES.

>> ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T REALLY NECESSARILY REALIZE WAS THAT THE STORIES OF OUR GRANDMOTHERS ARE TELLING THE STORY AND THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND IT WAS JUST REALLY AMAZING TO ME BECAUSE YOU NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT.

WHAT OTHER REVELATIONS HAVE COME TO LIGHT THROUGH THESE STORIES?

>> WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HISTORY OF STORIES, WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE POWERFUL PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT WE HAVE POWERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR OWN FAMILY, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS PART OF IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT LEGACY IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS THE WAY TO RECOGNIZE THIS.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE, THIS STORY IS GOING TO BE LOST.

AND THAT'S THE PROJECT, TOO.

THE PROJECT IS TO RECOUPATE AND PRESERVE THOSE STORIES THAT CONNECT ALL OF US.

>> NOW, THIS IS THE FOURTH ITERATION COMING UP FOR THIS EXHIBIT.

WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO KEEP CONTINUING THIS EXHIBIT AND BRINGING IT BACK?

>> SO I THINK THE GRANDMOTHER HAS A POWERFUL ROLE IN OUR CULTURE.

AND I THINK IN MANY CULTURES, RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS IS POWERFUL, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE GRANDMAS.

WE CANNOT BE HERE IF WE DON'T HAVE GRANDMAS OR GRANDPAS, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT IF WE GO BACK TO THAT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO -- TO HAVE THOSE -- THOSE STORIES AND THOSE MEMORIES OF LIFE, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S PART OF THIS PROJECT.

¶ ¶ >> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR JULY 9TH, 20202021.

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 CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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