PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
World War II veterans Jack Freryor and John Di Pietro reflect on their service Monday at Swampscott Cemetery.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SWAMPSCOTT — Memorial Day services were held on Monday in the newly-restored Andrews Memorial Chapel at the Swampscott Cemetery.
The event was the first for the church in 15 years following a $320,000 renovation. Built in 1923 in memory of Isaac A. Andrews, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The ceremony is typically held in the veterans section of the cemetery. But weather conditions prompted services to be moved inside, said John Sacherski, VFW Post 1240 commander.
Still, flags were placed at the grave marking of each veteran by Steve DeFelice, a Marine Corps veteran, and a group of others.
“The flags are all measured to a certain standard,” Sacherski said. “It’s very well done. It’s beautiful.”
Captain Rev. Dean Pederson, who was ordained 50 years ago and sent to Vietnam, led the ceremony and said he was honored to be using the space.
“It’s not a celebration in the sense that we celebrate the Fourth of July,” Pederson said. “But we do celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us.”
While many in attendance were not veterans, Pederson said some of them may have lost family members or been “touched by the fire of war.” He thanked those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
“To those, who in our mind and in our hearts are forever young, for their life and their legacy, we give thanks,” Pederson said.
This Memorial Day was extra special for Selectman Peter Spellios, who remembered his father, Cpl. Louis T. Spellios, who was drafted at 18 to serve in World War II.
Spellios said his father died this year. He reflected on playing catch in the backyard with his dad, and said that unknowingly, his children brought back the memory Monday morning by playing ball in the backyard.
He stressed the importance of making sure future generations understand the sacrifices the military makes daily.
“Today and everyday, thank you to all who have served and all that have sacrificed,” Spellios said.
The U.S. Marine Corps Junior ROTC presented the Colors, Frank Rowe played the bagpipe and VFW members and Marine Corps Legion fired rounds outside the chapel.
A crowd gathered at the VFW for lunch following the event.
Sacherski said that despite a recent incident when a $276 donation bucket was stolen from an elderly World War II veteran, Boy Scouts, veterans and volunteers raised more than $4,000 for the VFW and organizations that it supports.
“The money goes to helping the veterans,” Sacherski said.
Last year, 72 food baskets were put together and distributed to World War II veterans, he said.
The stolen cash was quickly recovered by the Swampscott Police Department, Sacherski said.
“We raised more money this year than we’ve ever raised in 10 years,”he said. “We have an amazing bunch of officers and I’d like to thank them for their response.”
Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), who attended Memorial Day ceremonies in Nahant and Lynn, said he was impressed by the number of people who braved the weather.
“Even in the rain, this is a great crowd,” McGee said. “It’s a nice chance to see the different towns and cities and the ways that they celebrate.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
