Saugus vets council prez vows to clear up fundraising confusion

SAUGUS-Doug Cooper on Monday was voted president of the Veterans Council for the eighth year in a row and one of his first orders of business will be to straighten out the grave marker fundraising situation.Cooper said there have been a number of splinter groups telling residents they are collecting, but he is unsure who they are and how much money, if any, had been raised.”It’s so confusing right now,” he said “I’m trying to pull it all together.”Over 700 flag holders were stolen off veterans’ graves in Riverside Cemetery last month and sold to a scrap-metal dealer. Three men were arrested and charged with the crime, but the markers had already been destroyed.The Veterans Council, along with the Cemetery Commission, said they planned to fundraise to replace the markers. Cooper said Danvers Bank has also stepped up and is pledging to help out.The markers cost about $20 apiece and it could cost upwards of $14,000 for new flag holders, unless the council and commission decide to go with a less expensive version.Selectman and Navy Veteran Stephen Castinetti said Town Meeting member Sean Maltais did some research on the markers and came up with a company that produced a significantly less expensive marker. Castinetti said the stake portion of the marker was metal but the medallion portion was plastic.”If we could get something maybe a little more durable I’d prefer it, but nothing has been decided,” Castinetti said.Despite the potential cost, the council is moving ahead undeterred.When the council met Monday, Cooper said it also ironed out plans for the annual Veterans Day Parade, which will include a collection for the flag markers.According to Cooper, Boy Scouts from Troop 62 will be out in force, walking the parade route collecting for the grave markers.”They will be in uniform and their buckets will be clearly marked,” Cooper said. “People won’t be able to miss them.”Both Castinetti and Cooper said any other donations should be sent to the Cemetery Commission, 164 Winter St., and marked specifically for grave markers.”We’ve tried to make that pretty clear,” Castinetti said. “Whatever donations are going on, they all should go to the Cemetery Commission so we can make sure that all the fundraising comes to the same spot.”