Saugus to honor women veterans

SAUGUS – Saugus resident Chet Stentiford said plans are set for a tree dedication ceremony to honor women veterans during Memorial Day weekend, however, a member of the Library Board of Trustees objected to a separate ceremony at the library.Stentiford said the tree planting will take place on May 25 at 3 p.m. at the veterans monument at the intersection of Winter and Central streets, and on June 4 the groundbreaking spade used for the tree planting will be presented and put on display in a mahogany case at the library.?It?s kind of an inspiration from my father,” said Stentiford. “My father served in the Army and was wounded on Omaha Beach. He spent eight months in a hospital and he really reflected on the care the Army nurses gave him, and he was always touched by that. I guess it kind of implanted a memory in my mind as far as remembering my dad?s service, because he never spoke about the war but talked about his time in the hospital.”While the Library Board of Trustees voted to accept the gift at its meeting last week, trustee Gail Murray voted against it, saying, “I have a problem with the funding” and claiming the Saugus Veterans Council “doesn?t want it.”?There was a vote taken that stated (the Veterans Council) wanted hands off and did not want to support this with monies or their time and energy ?” she said during last week?s meeting. “This to me smells more of politics than it does benefiting the library ? I?m not keen with the funding issues on this ? I am finding this is more of a private interest than a public.”Trustee Chairman Paul Allan, however, said that was not the case.?I?m the executive officer of the Saugus Veterans Council and I?m actually supporting and I?m actually going to be attending the ceremony,” he said. “We just said we?re not going to spend any money on it because we have to spend our monies on the Memorial Day and we have to spend our monies on the Veterans Day parade ? That?s what the vote was actually taken on.”Murray also said it was her “understanding they do not want it across the street at Town Hall,” to which Stentiford said he never heard anything to that account.?OK, I?m telling you,” replied Murray.?With all due respect, I have never received an official rejection,” said Stentiford. “As a matter of fact, for your information ? I spoke with Scott Crabtree directly in his office and he didn?t have one problem with it ? he wanted to clear it with the Board of Selectmen. I never heard from the man ever regarding this. It hasn?t been approved yet. The process is still in the process. It has never been rejected. I don?t know where you got that from.”Stentiford also noted the project is being done “as a private citizen” and said representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and from the Massachusetts Women Veteran Network will be on hand.Trustee Bob Cox said he didn?t see why the conversation was relevant.?It?s not intended to be a commercial application,” he said. “The fact that it was turned down at Town Hall is a rumor and it has not been voted on ? I think it?s an honor to have something like this. It?s a memorial and a representation for a group of warriors that we should recognize.”Crabtree and selectmen Chairman Michael Serino could not be reached Thursday.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].