Caring BY TOM SHEEHAN

Here I will relate a current situation at the Veterans Section of our Riverside Cemetery that I visit every day.
A few weeks ago I saw how the edges of the flat memorial stones for veterans were being trimmed very neatly and very industriously and figured it was cemetery employees getting the place up and ready for Memorial Day services where each grave is recapped with a new flag by an individual standing there during the services. I have been recapping or reflagging Frank Parkinson’s grave for more than 25 years. “Parkie, Tanker, Tiger of Tobruk.”

This effort has been going on for a number of weeks and I had never seen any of the work being done, though the resulting pile of earth and de-rooted grass continued to be piled up on the perimeter road until it was hauled away, by front-end pay-loader, which tells you how much effort is being expended. But I found out a few days ago that the work is not being done by cemetery employees but by one individual in our town, Gordy Shepard, who I first met when he was erecting a memorial board in our hockey rink, the Kasabuski Brother Memorial Rink. The two brothers, members of the 10th Mountain Division and avid skiers before WW II, were killed in Italy within 12 days of each other. At that time Gordy asked me to write a piece for the commemoration services, which was accomplished. I should have known that Gordy was in the mix at the veterans Section.

This morning, after heavy rain, Gordy was there again, this time trimming the edges of the whole section so that the whole section will be neat and orderly, and totally respectful. In addition, he has trimmed two trees that were hanging low over the site, and will soon arrange to paint the central flagpole. We talked this morning, a break for him, about some of our mutual friends resting there, and he pointed out that two Spanish-American War veterans also glorify the site. Needless to say, I am deeply impressed by the efforts of Gordy Shepard who proceeds on his mission without fanfare or publicity, and does not look for any thanks. He is another one of my heroes from this small town of Saugus. (Left: Medal of Honor recipient SSgt Arthur F. DeFranzo’s headstone. SSgt DeFranzo received the Medal of Honor for heroic deeds six days following D-Day, 1944)

I know Gordy’s actions will find deep respect with you, part of my duty of spreading the good word about Saugus. Gordy, US Army 1966-69, was a crew chief in the 244th Aviation Brigade during the Tet Offensive.

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