Next I loaded the images into the program.  This is done by first embedding the images and then calling a function named makeHandshapeArray that then places each letter into the appropriate place in the array of images.

            //the embedding of the files into the code
            var a:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "a.jpg" ) ] var aClass:Class;
            var b:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "b.jpg" ) ] var bClass:Class;
            var c:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "c.jpg" ) ] var cClass:Class;
            var d:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "d.jpg" ) ] var dClass:Class;
            var e:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "e.jpg" ) ] var eClass:Class;
            var f:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "f.jpg" ) ] var fClass:Class;
            var g:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "g.jpg" ) ] var gClass:Class;
            var h:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "h.jpg" ) ] var hClass:Class;
            var i:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "i.jpg" ) ] var iClass:Class;
            var j:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "j.jpg" ) ] var jClass:Class;
            var k:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "k.jpg" ) ] var kClass:Class;
            var l:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "l.jpg" ) ] var lClass:Class;
            var m:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "m.jpg" ) ] var mClass:Class;
            var n:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "n.jpg" ) ] var nClass:Class;
            var o:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "o.jpg" ) ] var oClass:Class;
            var p:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "p.jpg" ) ] var pClass:Class;
            var q:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "q.jpg" ) ] var qClass:Class;
            var r:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "r.jpg" ) ] var rClass:Class;
            var s:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "s.jpg" ) ] var sClass:Class;
            var t:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "t.jpg" ) ] var tClass:Class;
            var u:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "u.jpg" ) ] var uClass:Class;
            var v:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "v.jpg" ) ] var vClass:Class;
            var w:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "w.jpg" ) ] var wClass:Class;
            var x:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "x.jpg" ) ] var xClass:Class;
            var y:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "y.jpg" ) ] var yClass:Class;
            var z:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "z.jpg" ) ] var zClass:Class;
            var Default:Bitmap;
            [ Embed ( source = "Default.jpg" ) ] var defaultClass:Class;
    
            //the array to hold the fingershapes
            var array:Array = new Array(27);
          
            //place letters in the array
            makeHandshapes();
              
            /*
            * assign variables their respective image and place in array
            */
            function makeHandshapes():void
            {
                array[1] = new aClass();
                array[2] = new bClass();
                array[3] = new cClass();
                array[4] = new dClass();
                array[5] = new eClass();
                array[6] = new fClass();
                array[7] = new gClass();
                array[8] = new hClass();
                array[9] = new iClass();
                array[10] = new jClass();
                array[11] = new kClass();
                array[12] = new lClass();
                array[13] = new mClass();
                array[14] = new nClass();
                array[15] = new oClass();
                array[16] = new pClass();
                array[17] = new qClass();
                array[18] = new rClass();
                array[19] = new sClass();
                array[20] = new tClass();
                array[21] = new uClass();
                array[22] = new vClass();
                array[23] = new wClass();
                array[24] = new xClass();
                array[25] = new yClass();
                array[26] = new zClass();                      
            }