Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Riding ’Round the Carousel in the Summertime By Sal Giarratani A s a kid growing up in lower Roxbury and the South End, I can remember my little brother and I waiting for school to get out so we could begin our summer vacation. My parents never took real vacations (you know, the ones that would have needed packing for). We stayed local – the Franklin Park Zoo, maybe the Boston Common and of course, Revere Beach with all those amusement rides. Opening Day was always Easter Sunday. Even if the temps were still too cool for the beach, HEROISM | SEE Page 10 duty in saving a 16-year-old girl who was trying to harm herself nearly 300 feet from the shore that May night. Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo recommended Wilson for the certifi cate, and he was there that night when Wilson jumped into the dark ocean to rescue the girl. On Monday night, he gave a detailed account of what he saw and heard as Wilson leapt into action. Rotondo said it was one of the very few times in life when you get to see a miracle and heroism in action. “There was this woman down at the end of the waterline; it was very dark out there and the water was cold. I was in it that day,” said Rotondo. “I hear this it was fi ne for all those rides and concession stands. My brother Dominic and I loved the dodge ’ems, as the locals knew them as. Everyone else called them bumper cars, but not us. Once the two of us coaxed our mother to join us on the fl oor when my brother and I started bumping into mom and laughing, of course. Then, our mom turned into Arnold Whatshisname and she turned on us, laughing just as loud. Thank God that ride ended because she was starting to win. We never again asked her to join us in a dodge ’em car. Other rides we loved were woman screaming ‘Get back here, get back here’ to this little girl, probably no more than 90 pounds soaking wet, and she was treading water at least 200 to 300 feet out in the water. What you don’t understand is that it was eight o’clock at night and it was dark and the water wasn’t all that warm; it was probably 48 degrees.” Under normal circumstances, Rotondo said, fi refi ghters would probably not go out in that situation unless they have lights and a rescue boat. “Like I said, you hardly ever see heroism in action; this could have been my daughter, or his daughter or anyone’s daughter,” said Rotondo. “David starts making his way to the shoreline, taking off his gear; he kept his sidearm at hand. So he is out there 200 or down inside the Hippodrome. In there was an early 20th century hand-carved merry-go-round. Upstairs over it – as we both got older – were those super motorized racing cars where we prepared ourselves for the future riding on the Southeast Expressway. Also, some great old cast-iron baseball pinball machines for a mere nickel. Remember the Cyclone, Wild Mouse, Virginia Reel, that double-ring Ferris Wheel, the Whip, oh, and that horrible ride inside a fenced ring that had us pinned GUEST | SEE Page 13 300 feet from the shoreline, and I believe he was over his head or getting close to it.” Rotondo said he believes the girl was distraught and wanted to drown herself and would struggle against anyone who tried to save her. “They fi ght and they fi ght hard – picture that in 48-degree water and it’s pitch black and he’s by himself, and that’s what he did,” said the councillor. “That’s what Dave Wilson did to save this young girl, who was hellbent, in my opinion, on killing herself. She was going as far as she could tread water until he got there. “He saved her life, and he did it in pitch black and he did it in frigid waters; that is why he is the epitome of the Revere Police Department and he is a hero.” SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com 781-231-1111 HELP WANTED Skate Guards • Snack Bar Adults Prefered - Hours Can Be Arranged Open 7 Days Per Week Call Jerry at 617-620-9201 or Michelle at 781-233-9507 Located at 425R Broadway (Route 1 South), Saugus MBTA Bus Route 429 Police Offi cer Jagger DiCenso was sworn into the ranks of the Revere Police Department at a City Hall ceremony on June 14. He is shown with Lt. Sean Randall (far left) and Police Chief David Callahan. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful career in law enforcement! Revere Police Offi cer DiCenso with fi ancé Damaris Subillaga and son, Alex Revere Police welcome Officer DiCenso New Revere Police Offi cer Jagger DiCenso with his proud parents, Gina and Ronald DiCenso
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