Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Firefighter training tempered by COVID-19 Virus concerns kept two Saugus Fire Dept. lieutenants from seeing their sons’ fire academy graduation ceremony By Mark E. Vogler F ive first-year Saugus firefighters and a Saugus resident who is a member of a Fire Department in another town were among the recent graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. But family members didn’t get to celebrate their accomplishment earlier this month because of concerns about the graduation ceremony being a super-spreader for the Coronavirus. Two fathers of the new graduates – who are also veteran officers of the Saugus Fire Department – were especially disappointed. “Bittersweet for me,” said Saugus Fire Lieutenant Damian Drella, whose 32-year-old son, Alex Drella, graduated as Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com SAUGUS FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS: Celebrating their recent graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) are, left to right, Christopher Hunt, James Cresta-Devine, Patrick Cross, Ryan Henehan and Drew Oxley. Oxley graduated at the top of his class as the MFA Class 289 Honor graduate. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) a paramedic/firefighter of the Mendon Fire Department. “Due to COVID restrictions, no one was able to attend the ceremonies. Myself graduating 30 years ago, 193 classes apart, I could not be prouder,” Lt. Drella said. Alex, a 2006 Saugus High School graduate, was an EMT for several years and studied and achieved his Paramedic credentials a few years ago. After graduating from the academy’s career recruitment firefighting program, he returned to duty last week in Mendon and took over as the EMS coordinator for the Mendon Fire Department. He also joined the Worcester County scuba dive rescue team and will be training with them in the future. Saugus Fire Lieutenant William E. Cross III also lamented missing what would have been one of those memorable family events that got spoiled by COVID-19. He wishes he could have been there to share the moment with son Patrick, 23, who is a third-generation firefighter. “It was really tough,” said Lt. Cross, whose father – William E. Cross, Jr. – is a retired Chelsea Fire Department captain who served with that city’s fire service for 35 years. “Graduations are special and a lot of work goes into them. I graduated from the academy in a class of 42 guys in 1995 and the academy lasted 12 weeks,” Cross said. “Patrick’s academy lasted 10 weeks and there were only 19 members in the class, because of the COVID. Wish I could have been there, but you gotta make the best of a bad situation…” he said. RECENT GRADUATE: Alex Drella, the son of Saugus Fire Lieutenant Damian Drella, is a Mendon Fire Department firefighter/paramedic. He shows off his diploma after completing a grueling 10-week training program at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy earlier this month. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) Patrick is a 2016 Saugus High School graduate. He played for and was captain of the hockey and golf teams. Here are the other four Saugus Fire Department recruits who just graduated from the Firefighting Academy: Jimmy Cresta-Devine, 24, is a 2014 Saugus High School graduate. He’s been a member of the Army National Guard for more than five years. His mother and sister are teachers in Saugus. Ryan Henehan, 26, is a 2013 Saugus High School graduate. He played basketball, football and baseball and was captain of the basketball and football teams. He’s been a Sergeant in the Army National Guard since 2013. Christopher Hunt, 22, is a 2017 Saugus High School graduate. He wanted to be a firefighter ever since junior year of High School where he shadowed the Fire Department and met with the firefighters. He said he “loved everything about it and knew right away that it was a perfect fit for me.” Drew Oxley, 27, is a Saugus High School Class of 2012 graduate. He was an assistant captain of the Hockey Team. Two other Saugus recruits are expected to attend the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy next month – Jonathan Crombie and Nick Landry – according to Lt. Cross. FIREFIGHTER | SEE PAGE 13
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