HADLEY — Residents gathered on the steps of Town Hall Monday morning, watching the fire department raise and lower the flag to half-staff. They stood there for a moment of silence that was broken by the sound of cars and trucks driving by on Route 9.
A firefighter rang a bell, four sets of five chimes. The 5-5-5-5 code signals the death of a firefighter.
Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel said prayers for the firefighters and police officers.
Lauren Triggs, the administrative assistant to the Hadley chief of police, held a flag with the names of emergency services personnel who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.