Donor offers funds to repair Saugus vets monument

SAUGUS – An anonymous donor has offered to help repair the damaged veterans monument near Saugus Center less than a week after a story appeared in the Daily Item about vandalism to the eight panels.Veterans Council President and Selectmen Vice Chairman Steve Castinetti said a local business owner called him after reading the story and said he wanted to help out.”It’s a non-veteran,” said Castinetti. “He called me up and said, ‘Steve, I read the article in the Item ? You don’t have the money to get those fixed?’ I said,’ No, I don’t’ and he said, ‘Come by my office and I’ll write you a check for a couple of thousand dollars and you can get them all done.'”Four of the eight metal panels etched with the names of Saugus veterans were sent out for repairs after Castinetti said vandals damaged them.However, Castinetti said the council could not afford to repair the remaining four.Castinetti said he won’t be able to repair the other four panels yet, otherwise they wouldn’t be back in time for the Veterans Day parade. The four panels already out for repair, however, will be installed in time, said Castinetti.”I’m going to wait,” said Castinetti. “I’m going to try to get someone to donate a security system so we can keep an eye on the place. If we do, then I’ll have them all redone. I told him, ‘You hold the money, and when we do decide to send them out, I will come and see you.'”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].