Scott Brown salutes vets in Saugus

SAUGUS – There were sailors, a senator, solemnity, and a theme of sacrifice as Saugus citizens gathered Saturday morning for the town’s Memorial Day Parade.”We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Senator Scott Brown, the event’s honored guest. “I’m deeply moved to see you all out honoring those people.”The parade included members of local veterans organizations, the Saugus High School Band, local Scouting groups, and the town’s elected officials and representatives. Grand Marshal, Saugus Firefighter and Chief Hospital Corpsman Gregory Cinelli led the parade from Cliftondale Square down Lincoln Avenue, Central Street and Winter Street to Riverside Cemetery for graveside services.The parade then marched to Town Hall where Steve Castinetti, U.S. Navy Retired, and president of the Veterans Council, Saugus, recognized special guests including Sen. Brown, State Senator Thomas McGee, State Representative Donald Wong, Former Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Medal of Honor Recipient Thomas Kelley, Keynote Speaker Commander Timothy Cooper of the USS Constitution, and the town’s board of selectmen and town manager.At the cemetery, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Leroe offered a prayer as citizens of all ages stood and bowed their heads before all the veterans’ graves in a moving show of community support.The gathering then moved to the cemetery’s Civil War lot to honor the service members who fought in that conflict, which began 150 years ago this April.Castinetti described it as “the bloodiest war of all wars fought with Americans.””Today, we remember those people in a war that put fathers against sons, brothers against brothers and friends against friends,” Castinetti said, before saluting a flag that had 33 stars, each representing a state in the Union in 1861.At the final stop before Town Hall, Cooper praised the town’s citizens for their moving tribute to veterans.”This is unlike anything I’ve seen,” Cooper said, “I’ve never seen it where a town comes and participates to the extent the Town of Saugus does.”Beth Cinelli, wife of Greg Cinelli, agreed.”It’s a great tribute to him and the City of Saugus,” she said. “He loves it here.”Cinelli agreed, running to take pictures with his fellow firefighters and shaking lots of hands after the ceremony.”It’s amazing. It’s nice, to be back,” he said. “Just look at this. I’ve got my wife, kids, and all these guys up here.”His words echoed those in a poem by local first-grade student Nova Green, who recited her work at the ceremony.”We fight for America,” she read. “It’s not about you, it’s about us. We are united. We are just one big family.”