Flags displayed at Town Hall for Amherst 9/11 ceremony

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A remembrance ceremony was held in Amherst on Tuesday to commemorate the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

The 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks comes on the heels of a flag policy that has generated some controversy in town.

Last month, town meeting members decided to maintain a policy to only fly small commemorative flags on 9/11 every five years. The chairwoman of the select board says that the decision reflects the different opinions of those who live in the town, as many of them are still grieving.

On Tuesday, Amherst displayed two U.S. flags outside Town Hall.

“People are obviously still grieving, but I don't think a flag is a sign of something bad. I think it's a sign of pride in this country,” Rebecca Bucci of Amherst said.

“Most of my family have flags, and they got them after 9/11, so they put them up and they put them up all the time. Everywhere in New York are flags,” Peggy Bucci of Providence said.

28 commemorative flags are placed on light poles around the town every year, for major holidays like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day.