Road race to honor fallen Saugus Marine

SAUGUS – Runners will gather bright and early Saturday morning in front of Town Hall for the first annual Gold Star Race for Scott J. Procopio, as Saugus prepares for its annual Memorial Day parade in Cliftondale Square.The race features both a 5K and a 10K route along with a walking category and will help raise money for the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund.Procopio, a Saugus native and a Marine corporal, was killed in action in Iraq in April 2006 when he was just 20.Kristal Collamore, Procopio?s widow, said Saturday?s race will be a “bittersweet” event.?It kind of brings everything back to the surface,” said Collamore. “But it?s nice to know you?re giving something back to the community. We?ve had the scholarship fund since the year that he passed. We?ve been giving them out every year.”Collamore said three $1,000 scholarships are given out every year to graduating seniors at Saugus High School. With 230 runners signed up so far, Collamore said she?s hoping she?ll be able to boost that to three $2,500 scholarships, while also keeping Procopio?s memory alive.?It?s not that people don?t remember what happened, but you kind of forget,” said Collamore. “People don?t do it to be mean or ignorant, it just kind of happens. We wanted to do something to bring it back to the community to say, ?Hey, we still have this scholarship fund but we need a little more to keep it going.?”Collamore said the goal for race day is to have at least 300 runners sign up, and noted she?s happy with the number of registrations so far.Ashley Steeves, Special Event Coordinator for B&S Fitness Programs, helped organize the race, from registration to setting up Saturday morning.Steeves said Saturday?s race will be a “celebration” of Procopio?s life and memory.?It?s an emotional day, but it?s also happy with everyone that comes from the town that supports the race that knew Scott,” said Steeves. “It?s a chance to celebrate his life and to remember what all our soldiers are out there fighting for.”Online registration closes today at 4 p.m. while race day registration starts at 6:15 a.m. Runners can park at Blessing Sacrament Church on Summer Street.To register for the race visit goldstarrun.com.The race will start in front of Town Hall at 7:30 a.m. and finishes on Taylor Street. The Memorial Day parade forms on Jackson street at 8:30 a.m. and kicks off at 9 a.m.With two events back-to-back, Collamore said Saturday will be a great time to remember all the soldiers who have died over the years.?If you weren?t directly affected by it, it?s not something you necessarily always think about,” said Collamore. “So we thought it would be a nice way to bring the community back together and appreciate these guys that have given their lives for you.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].