THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 26, 2023 Page 3 Honoring a Fallen Hero A revere Army veteran is a frequent visitor to the gravesite of Medal of Honor recipient By Mark E. Vogler R etired U.S. Army Corporal Frank DeFronzo was born nearly two decades after Saugus Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Arthur F. DeFranzo was killed in action in World War II. But DeFronzo, whose name is spelled slightly differently than the hero he claims as his second cousin, said he’s spent many days at the Riverside Cemetery making sure DeFranzo has a good miniature American flag at his gravesite. “Twice a month or more I come down here to pay my respects to him and all of the veterans,” DeFronzo said in an interview this week. “I’ve been coming here for a long time. My father took me down here when I was a kid. He and Arthur were very close. My father’s father and Frank DeFronzo at Riverside Cemetery (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Arthur’s father were brothers,” he said. “I’m a DeFronzo, which is different than DeFranzo. The name got screwed up when our families came over here,” he said. DeFronzo, 60, of Revere, is a disabled veteran who is accompanied by his service dog, Roxie. He doesn’t like to talk about his military service, other than to say he served with the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry Regiment. His focus these days is makMEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Arthur F. DeFranzo (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ing sure Staff Sergeant DeFranzo has a flag. “I replace the flag in the winter when it gets tattered,” DeFronzo said. “I always make sure he has a flag. He needs to have one 24-7.” DeFranzo is one of more than 3,500 Americans to have received the Medal of Honor – the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces since 1863 – and one of more than 600 who received the medal posthumously. DeFranzo Medal of Honor island is located near J. Pace & Son and the S/Sgt. Arthur F. DeFranzo V.F.W. Post 2346 building. DeFranzo’s heroics and sacrifice U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Arthur F. DeFranzo was the Saugus World War II war hero who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for sacrificing his life to save fellow soldiers. The casket containing his body laid in state at Saugus Town Hall for three days, and he received a military funeral at Riverside Cemetery. Staff Sergeant DeFranzo’s official Medal of Honor citation reads: HERO | SEE PAGE 4 9 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-8 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Wednesday Thursday Friday Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Private Parties Private Parties 4-11 p.m. Saturday 12-11 p.m. $9.00 $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
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