Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAy, MAy 23, 2025 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 7 a visit to the family cemetery was always a top priority. We’d go to a garden center to pick up geraniums for the graves of loved ones passed who served in the service. Fortunately, I didn’t have any members in my family who died while serving in the armed forces. But at our Episcopal Church in Fall River, we said prayers for two church members – soldiers my family knew who died during World War II. Once I began my journalism career as a newspaper reporter, I developed a deeper appreciation of Memorial Day. The Vietnam War was winding down, so I got to write stories about men my age who died in combat while serving in the U.S. Army. Every town had them. I’m sure I will get invited to a Memorial Day cookout this week by a few friends. But my main focus will be to travel to Swansea to find some flowers to put on the graves of my Uncle Albert (U.S. Army), my dad (U.S. Navy) and my twin brother Lance (U.S. Air Force). Lance was a Vietnam Veteran War veteran who volunteered and served with honor in the U.S. Air Force over in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. He got killed in a motorcycle accident an eighth of a mile from our Swansea home on Memorial Day in 1978. Even before I awoke to a knock on the door by a stranger at a motel in San Angelo, Texas, with a message to call home, my work as a reporter involved covering some horrendous and heart-breaking fatal car crashes. Besides regarding Memorial Day as a special time to remember those American Service people who gave their lives, I also consider it to be one of the most deadly holidays while traveling on the road. That never changed. I plan to be in Saugus again for Memorial Day observances tomorrow (Saturday, May 24) morning to cover and photograph the town’s Annual Memorial Day Parade, wrapping up with a ceremony in Riverside Cemetery. I wish all of our readers a safe and healthy holiday weekend. Be careful if you are driving. Don’t drink and drive and be on the lookout for drivers who have had too much to drink. And if you have loved ones or friends who died while serving in the Armed Forces, visit their graves and remember them in your prayers. This week’s “SHOUT OUTs” We had a busy week handling “Shout Out” nominations from readers who wished to publicly acknowledge the good deeds or efforts by a fellow Saugonian to make the town a better place to live. Here they are: Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti nominated the Vietnam veteran and Saugus native Gordon Shepard, who has devoted thousands of volunteer hours over the past 17 years sprucing up Riverside Cemetery, focusing on improving the appearance and upkeep of veterans’ gravesites. People in Saugus who know Gordie say nobody knows the fallen heroes and servicemen and servicewomen of Saugus like Gordie. As Castinetti puts it: “Gordie won’t be able to make it this year. He’s down in Florida recuperating from an accident. His dedication to make that cemetery look as good as it does will be sorely missed this year. We want to wish him a speedy recovery.” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta offered this “Shout Out” to Alex Pappagallo “for winning an Honorable mention for his PSA poster design for the MASS Partnership for Youth. He also did an excellent job explaining his poster at our May 20th Selectmen’s meeting.” Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo, who is regarded as the most prolific “shout out” nominator in town, and the one who suggested the feature be included as a regular part of this column, offered a “shout out” for “shout outs.” Here’s what she had to say: “This Memorial Day marks six years since The Saugus Advocate ‘Shout Outs’ column started, all thanks to you! The grand total is 556, so I thought a ‘Shout Out’ to all the people who nominated someone special for a ‘Shout Out’ this past year and a huge thank you to Mark Vogler, Editor of The Advocate, for printing them every week is well deserved. Many thanks to all, let’s keep Shout- ing Out!” Frequent Saugus Advocate SAVE $350when you transform your patio into an outdoor oasis. Instant shade—at the touch of a button. Enjoy more quality time with family and friends. Up to 10-Year Limited Warranty. SAVE$350 TODAY! Call 1-833-626-0576 now to America’s #1 Awning! GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! In this week’s edition, we bring back a popular feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was being sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who correctly identifies the Saugonian being sketched between now and Tuesday at noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a gift certificate. Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. Prize donation for the winner is a $15.00 Dunkin’ Gift Card donated Anonymously by a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) Parson Roby Chapter member who is wishing you a peaceful & reflective Memorial Day. You have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” (Courtesy photo and sketch by Joanie Allbee, aka “The Sketch Artist”) contributor and longtime town historian and writer Janice K. Jarosz offered this tribute: “Little Brook Florist and Garden Center is located at 190 Lincoln Avenue, Saugus, MA. A family-owned business for several years, they offer a large selection of fresh flowers, plants for your vegetable garden, a variety of herb plants, along with helpful advice on your planting selections. Little Brook is a delightful place to visit with convenient parking and offers everything you will need for all your gardening plans! Please support small businesses in Saugus!” Avid Saugus reader Joyce Rodenhiser, one of the town’s most civic-minded people, offered two “shout outs” this week, one of them for “Janice Jarosz and her committees who continue to restore the MEG building in Cliftondale Square. They have been working on this for a very long time and sustain their wonderful work with new fund raisers very often.” Joyce also offered a “shout out” for Donna Manoogian and Lorraine DiMilla, “who recently presented the town wide fund raiser for the Saugus Garden Club with great style. Donna and Lorraine have capably presided at the Garden Club for 11 years.” “In times when joining groups has fallen on hard times, these three women conTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 11
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