ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Katie Barletta of Girl Scout Troop 68131 looks for graves to decorate at Riverside Cemetery in Saugus.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Volunteers are raising the flag for the town’s veterans.
In preparation for today’s Memorial Day ceremonies, local veteran organizations placed a flag on the grave of every vet in Riverside Cemetery.
Led by the Saugus Veterans Council, the VFW American Legion, Saugus Military Families, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Daisies and volunteers teamed up to distribute 2,100 flags.
Victoria Jackson, 10, said she helped distribute flags because she wanted to thank the veterans.
Brianna Feldman, 8, said she helps out each year, but had a special hero in mind Friday.
“My mom’s friend’s son was a Marine,” she said. “James Newman. He died a few weeks ago.”
State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) said he was pleased to see so many children helped.
“It’s great to see the respect,” Wong said. “The youth know what this is all about. It’s about the veterans who have given it all.”
Starting at the veterans portion of the cemetery, the volunteers neatly placed flags at each grave marker. The area includes the gravesite of Arthur Defranzo, a Medal of Honor recipient.
Gordon Shepard, who maintains the section, recently raised the markers to create a more consistent look. He also installed three flagpoles.
“This is Gordy’s heart and soul,” said Paul Allan, executive officer of the veterans council.
Students from the Veterans Memorial Elementary School placed poppies at each marker, the official memorial flower of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
During today’s parade, which starts on Jackson Street at 9:30 a.m., the march will stop at the cemetery to honor the fallen veterans and a 21-gun salute will ensue.
“People will man each grave during the ceremony, solute and recognize the person,” Allan said. “Memorial Day is not to remember all veterans. It’s to remember the veterans who lost their lives during battle.”
Ceremonies will be led by Steve Castinetti, commander of the veterans council. The parade will continue, making its way back to Town Hall, where David Savoie and his team will perform a World War II reenactment.
“We are trying to recognize as many World War II veterans as we can,” Allan said. “That was the greatest generation.”
Ceremonies are expected to conclude by noon.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
