The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

Today (Friday, May 22) marks the beginning of the most solemn of American holidays. While it seems to have lost its meaning over the years, Memorial Day is a day where Americans pause to reflect and remember their fallen heroes – the ones who served their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in the line of duty.

Saugus, like most American communities, has felt the tragedy of war over the years – from the Revolutionary War to the Iraqi War. The stars of the fallen are there to count alongside the names of servicemen inscribed on monuments throughout town. The holiday will officially get underway today (Friday, May 22) at 3 p.m. with a flagging of veterans’ graves in Riverside Cemetery.

Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti has again issued an invitation to all Saugus citizens to volunteer their time to assist longtime grave officer Randy Briand in planting mini-American flags. “We need as many volunteers as we can get to make sure all of the veterans graves in the cemetery get a flag,” Castinetti said this week.

“All are welcome to join in. The more, the merrier,” he said.

If you miss the flagging this afternoon, there’s still time to join other Saugonians in observing Memorial Day tomorrow (Saturday, May 23), beginning at 10 a.m. with the annual Memorial Day parade, which will pass Veterans Park and make its way into Riverside Cemetery, where the town’s official ceremonies will commence. There will be the familiar sight of family members and friends of the fallen or deceased veterans putting flowers on their graves to go alongside the miniature American flags. Many will come from out of town to honor the fallen of Saugus on this Memorial Day weekend of remembrance.

Memorial Day weekend is also one of the most dangerous driving periods of the year, ever since I can remember. I lost my twin brother, Lance A. Vogler, on Memorial Day in 1978 in a motorcycle accident an eighth of a mile down the street from our home in Swansea, Mass. Lance was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

When I got the news of his death, I was working for a newspaper in San Angelo, Texas. I had just written about a tragic car accident in which seven family members perished.

So, Saugus be safe out there on the road.

 

One-day trash delay

The Town of Saugus announced that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the Memorial Day holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, May 25, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, May 26. Residents are kindly asked to leave their trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day.

The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

The fallen heroes of Saugus

Some folks confuse the purpose of Memorial Day with Veterans Day (Nov. 11), two similar patriotic holidays. Memorial Day, which was once known as “Decoration Day” honoring the Civil War fallen heroes, is to honor those who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans Day, which commemorates the end of World War I, is meant to honor all living veterans, retired or still serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This time of year, I like to mention the war dead totals I’ve compiled over the years by counting stars for each of the wars from World War I through the Iraq War.

Saugus by the Numbers

Based on a count of the stars on local monuments, here are the numbers of Saugus servicemen who were killed while serving their country:

• World War I – 14
• World War II – 57
• Korean War – 2
• Vietnam War – 3
• Iraq War – 1

Saugus in the Civil War: Killed in action aren’t noted. But on the large Civil War Monument inside the large rotary – a keystone-shaped roundabout – two plaques on the right and left sides of the memorial list the names of 163 Saugus residents who served in the war.

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, May 22) 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.

 

Legion Breakfast on Fridays

There’s a good breakfast deal for Saugus veterans and other folks who enjoy a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings. The American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus offers Friday morning breakfasts for the 2026 season. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free. The Friday breakfasts will last until May 29.

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo offered several “shout outs” this week:

“To Chris Riley for painting the Bus Stop hut at Clifftondale [Cliftondale] Square. It looks so nice and clean now. Thank you Chris for doing this for all the residents in Clifftondale! You are the best!”

“To Done Right Landscaping for making the Clifftondale Square Rotary look beautiful once again this Spring. This company has done this for years free of charge. All the Clifftondale residents are grateful that you do this for us, thank you so much!”

“The final ‘Shout Out’ is for the yearly total of all the ‘Shout Outs’ that were printed in The Saugus Advocate this past year aaaaannnndddd the total is 128. The grand total of ‘Shout Outs’ since its inception is 684! So a ‘Shout Out’ to every person who took the time to say a kind word to someone, you are the best!”

Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti offered a “Shout Out” to Gordon Shepard for all the work he continued to do this year, working from afar to help get Riverside Cemetery in shape for tomorrow’s (Saturday, March 23) Memorial Day ceremonies. “Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it home from Florida this year. But even from 1,500 miles away, he was still working on getting the cemetery ready. He ordered all new flags for the flag poles, got the grounds fertilized and the sprinklers turned on.”

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Countdown till Saugus celebrates America’s 250th

Here’s a report from Corinne Riley, chair of the Saugus 250th Celebration Committee:

“America’s 250th Celebration is just seven weeks away! Saugus had our own heroes during the Revolutionary War. 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! It will be at the Saugus Iron Works, Saturday July 4th. Noon to 4 pm. We are looking forward to the 10 precincts entering a patriotic decorated vehicle! Volunteers are always welcome. 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.