The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

I wonder how many of the town’s young people – school-age kids from the Elementary School grades all the way up to High School – know the story of Army Staff Sergeant Arthur Frederick DeFranzo, the Saugus soldier who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for sacrificing his life on the battlefield in World War II in an extraordinary display of courage and selfless service to country. Every student whoever attended Saugus Public Schools should be familiar with the Citation which led to DeFranzo’s Medal of Honor:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 10 June 1944, near Vaubadon, France. As scouts were advancing across an open field, the enemy suddenly opened fire with several machineguns and hit 1 of the men. S/Sgt. DeFranzo courageously moved out in the open to the aid of the wounded scout and was himself wounded but brought the man to safety. Refusing aid, S/Sgt. DeFranzo reentered the open field and led the advance upon the enemy. There were always at least 2 machineguns bringing unrelenting fire upon him, but S/Sgt. DeFranzo kept going forward, firing into the enemy and 1 by 1 the enemy emplacements became silent. While advancing he was again wounded, but continued on until he was within 100 yards of the enemy position and even as he fell, he kept firing his rifle and waving his men forward. When his company came up behind him, S/Sgt. DeFranzo, despite his many severe wounds, suddenly raised himself and once more moved forward in the lead of his men until he was again hit by enemy fire. In a final gesture of indomitable courage, he threw several grenades at the enemy machinegun position and completely destroyed the gun. In this action, S/Sgt. DeFranzo lost his life, but by bearing the brunt of the enemy fire in leading the attack, he prevented a delay in the assault which would have been of considerable benefit to the foe, and he made possible his company’s advance with a minimum of casualties. The extraordinary heroism and magnificent devotion to duty displayed by S/Sgt. DeFranzo was a great inspiration to all about him, and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.”

I wonder how many of those Saugus school kids who know DeFranzo’s story truly appreciate what he and the rest of Saugus’ fallen have done over the years. Probably very few of them actually care, judging from the low turnout for last Saturday’s Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony.

Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti was visibly upset with the turnout at the Veterans’ Lot in Riverside Cemetery after the conclusion of the ceremony. He was so upset that he asked me to call him earlier this week to express his disappointment publicly. “Every year, we’ve been able to cover every single veteran’s grave in the veterans lot before the ceremony,” Castinetti said of the ceremonial practice of a person standing at each grave and picking up the miniature American flag and holding it until the end of the ceremony.

“But this year, the turnout for the ceremony in the cemetery was so bad, I don’t think we were able to cover half of the graves. And I’m really disappointed in the turnout by the residents of Saugus. If we didn’t have all of the out-of-town groups that we had this year, we probably wouldn’t have been able to cover 20 percent of the graves,” Castinetti continued. “It’s a sad commentary if we can’t honor the sacrifice of the people who gave their lives so that we would have the freedom to do this at the cemetery every year. It’s a shame that people can’t come out for an hour to honor these heroes. People just don’t appreciate the enormous sacrifices the military has made over the years. They just take it for granted.”

The low turnout was most conspicuous among the town’s young people. Other than the Saugus High School marching band, the four high school Junior ROTC units from out of town and a handful of kids marching in the parade and a few kids with their parents hanging out at Veterans Park, I didn’t observe a lot of young people. Especially in the cemetery. The irony is that more people and more kids showed up in the rain last year.

In his speech at the cemetery, Castinetti emphasized the significance of this most solemn of American holidays. “Memorial Day reminds us that freedom has never been free. Every cross in a military cemetery, every folded flag handed to a grieving family, every name etched into a memorial represents a life given in service to something greater than oneself,” Castinetti said.

“As we reflect on 250 years of American history, we must remember that the strength of this nation has never come solely from its wealth or power. It comes from the character of its people – ordinary Americans willing to do extraordinary things in defense of liberty,” he said. “The men and women we honor today were not seeking glory. They were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors. They had dreams, families and futures. Yet, they accepted the burden of service so that others might live in peace and freedom. Their sacrifice places a responsibility on all of us.”

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, May 29) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office at 781-233-2663 or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details.

 

Last Legion Breakfast of the season Friday

If you haven’t yet sampled a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings at the American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus, today (May 29) is your last chance for the 2025-26 season. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free.

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

We received nominations from these readers:

Sue Fleming: “I would like to ‘Shout Out’ the 4th grade students and teachers from the Belmonte Steam Academy who participated in the Pen Pal program with seniors from the Saugus Senior Center. Letters have been exchanged since last fall, ending with an in-person meeting with a pizza party and the seniors and students getting a chance to meet each other and talk. The letter writing was a fantastic opportunity for all! I am planning on participating again next year. Thanks to everyone involved.”

Elizabeth Amico: “A ‘shout out’ for Lisa Poto

“Lisa has spent the last fifteen years hostessing the Saugus Library Book Club and as a long time member, and with many other members past and present, we want to thank her for her years of providing a welcoming discussion group that has enriched our lives.

“Thank you Lisa.”

 

Want to “Shout Out” a fellow Saugonian?

This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mv***@*****st.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo.

 

Countdown til Saugus celebrates America’s 250th

Here’s an updated report from the Saugus 250th Celebration Committee:

The Saugus 250th Celebration Committee is putting some of the final touches on the event. We have started to hear from precincts that will be submitting a patriotic decorative truck and hope to continue to hear from more in the next week or two! The committee will be doing a spot with SCTV that will have a lot of information on the event itself, so watch out for it! Again, Saugus has a rich history in its role in the Revolutionary War. We have a very hard working committee, however we need volunteers for the event! If you can help out on the 4th, overseeing children’s games, serving food, etc. let us know. America’s 250th Celebration is just five weeks away! It will be observed locally at the Saugus Iron Works, Saturday July 4th. Noon to 4 pm. There will be speeches by Parson Roby, General George Washington and reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There will be entertainment, children’s games played back in the 1700’s, and an old fashioned community get-together and BBQ! We are looking forward to the 10 precincts entering a patriotic decorated vehicle! Join us for a fun-filled historical event celebrating our Founding Fathers who created our country’s democratic form of government. If you want more information or have questions, email cc*****@*****st.net.

 

June 6 Blood Drive at Legion Hall

Saugus American Legion Post 210 is hosting its Memorial Blood Drive on June 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cpl. Scott J. Procopio & Capt. William Shoemaker American Legion Post Hall at 44 Taylor St. Please call the Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment.

 

Touch A Truck on June 7

The Blessed Sacrament Church at 14 Summer St. will be hosting a Touch A Truck Event on June 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. Tiger Institute who will be doing a karate demonstration. There will also be a police K9 demonstration. There will be all sorts of trucks and vehicles for kids to touch and check out. There will be raffles, food and beverages. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. This will mark the seventh year for Moms Cancer Fighting Angels’ involvement in the event.

 

Saugus Democrats meet June 10

The next meeting of the Saugus Democratic Town Committee is Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at SaugusTV offices at 30 Main St. Parking is in front of the building or across the street. Entrance is via the side door.

 

Elks to hold Narcan program June 15

  The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee is holding a Narcan presentation at the Saugus-Senior Center on Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m., at 466 Central St. in Saugus. This is an hour-long free event. Drug overdose is the leading cause of death in the United States. Witness the benefits of Narcan and its many uses. Samples will be shown to all present. Don’t miss out on this event. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Upcoming events at the Saugus Public Library

Here are a few interesting programs worth checking out at the Saugus Public Library:

Laura Eisener offered this report: “Natural World”, a beautiful exhibit of photographs by Jordan Lavine, graces the walls of the reading room at Saugus Public Library. Iconic New England scenes include the forge and slitting mill at Saugus Ironworks, the old stone church in Boylston, MA with the US flag reflected in the water, views of Acadia National Park in Maine, and many others taken throughout the seasons. Bird lovers will enjoy a bald eagle seeming to howl at the moon, a camouflaged owl in a tree trunk, and many more. Other subjects include pollinators among blossoms and other wildlife. This display will run throughout May and June – be sure to get over and see it!

• See Jonah Knight perform a magic show and facilitate a Dungeons and Dragons game! Please join us on Monday, June 22, at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; registration required.

 

SAVE Annual Meeting June 16

Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment will hold its 53rd Annual Meeting & Dinner on June 16 at 7 p.m. at Magia’s Restaurant & Bar (126 Newbury St., Danvers). A social time will be held at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature a brief business meeting, stewardship award, guest speaker, raffles and an update on SAVE activities. The guest speaker will be Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director of Just Zero, a national zero waste, nonprofit organization, who will be presenting on the topic “Massachusetts: Time to Change our Solid Waste System.”

The Dinner Buffet will include fresh garden salad, penne with pomodoro, baked haddock, chicken parmigiana, vegetable, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea. Free parking is available on-site, and the facility is ADA accessible.

Tickets are $38 per person payable by check or Venmo (@SAVE-org) as soon as possible, but no later than June 1. Mail checks payable to “SAVE, Saugus” to SAVE Treasurer, Mary Kinsell, 11 Sunnyside Avenue, Saugus, MA 01906. Complete your forms online (https://forms.gle/KEYAU8CUnAWhoxQEA).

SAVE was founded in 1973 to promote a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental concern and action.

 

Summer Track Camp 2026 coming

The Saugus Sachems Youth Summer Track Camp 2026 is about a month away. This vibrant program, now in its 21st year, is where student athletes from a wide range of ages come together to listen well, work hard and have fun! They will be guided by veteran coach Christopher Tarantino, his coaches, counselors and alumni, as well as current middle and high school track team members. Participants work on social and team building skills, as well as setting individual and team goals, all while learning the fundamentals and/or the advanced techniques of this dynamic sport, track and field.

Cost: $350 first year, returning $300, $250 if 4th+ year in summer program; includes pasta dinner, t-shirt, uniform and entry into Summer Showdown. Subtract $50 from cost if returning with uniform.

For any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino (Coach T) at 781-854-6778 or ch********************@***il.com.

Here’s what parents and participants need to know:

Who: five to 18 years old.

Where: Belmonte Track.

When: 6-8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

June 22–26 – final registration week/returning athlete training.

June 29–July 3 – first formal week.

July 6–9 – second formal week.

July 10 – 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – makeup practice (if necessary).

July 10 – 6 p.m. – Pasta Dinner at Prince Pizzeria.

July 11 – 9 a.m. – in-house meet at Serino Stadium.

July 13 – 16 – retrain week.

July 18 – Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I.

July 22 – wrap up.