April 29: Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation to Present 'Hero Awards' to Officer who saved colleague during shooting in East Boston

Winthrop Residents Mia Martucci, Sheryl Howard, and USMC Sgt. Andrew Bigio to be Honored with George Washington Honor Medals at Ceremonies set for April 29 in East Boston

(EAST BOSTON, March 12, 2017)  The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will present Hero Awards to two Boston Police officers who helped to save the life of a colleague wounded during a shooting incident in East Boston back in October 2016. During a ceremony in East Boston next month, the Chapter will also present prestigious national George Washington Honor Medals to Winthrop residents Mia Martucci, Sheryl Howard, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. (Retired) Andrew Biggio. 

      The awards will be presented at the Bay State Chapter’s 38st Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 1 p.m., in Spinelli’s Banquet Facility, Day Square in East Boston. Tickets are $50, and can be purchased from Vice President for Awards Dottie D’Onofrio at (617) 539-3092 or donofrio35@aol.com or from Chapter Secretary Marisa Di Pietro at (617) 650-3442 or mdipietro@ebsoc.org. 

      The two Boston Police officers, Sgt. Norberto Perez and SWAT Team Officer Clifton Singletary, were among the officers responding to a domestic issue in an East Boston apartment when gunfire erupted and two officers were severely wounded. Despite a hail of bullets all around them, Sgt. Perez and Officer Singletary were able to pull one of their colleagues out of harm’s way and their efforts to pinch-off a bleeding artery and apply a tourniquet to his leg helped to save his life. The two officers are being honored with the Chapter’s first-ever Hero Awards for their extraordinary and exemplary life-saving act.
      
      Mia Martucci is 12 years old and a resident of Winthrop. She is being honored with the George Washington Honor Medal for her five years of dedicated fundraising for the Boston Children’s Hospital Cancer Research Center, along with her toy drive to help lift the spirit of the children waging their battle against cancer at the Boston hospital.

      Sheryl Howard of Winthrop is being honored with the George Washington Honor Medal for her “Veterans Honor Project.” She involved many participants from numerous town organizations to ensure that Veterans Road in Winthrop would be adorned with the American flag on every utility pole as a respectful remembrance for those who served the country in military service. 
      
      USMC Sgt. (Retired) Andrew Biggio of Winthrop is being honored with the George Washington Honor Medal for his leadership and dedication in helping wounded veterans. He is the founder of the “They Fought We Ride” fundraising project where more than 6,000 motorcyclists from near and far join in a ride through many communities in the Boston area, raising thousands of dollars that are used to assist wounded warriors.
      
      Bay State Chapter Founder and Executive Director, Judge Joseph V. Ferrino (Retired), will also welcome head table guests: Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; and guest speaker Carolyn Santagelo, Director of Educational Programs and Awards at the national office of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA.

Tickets to the Bay State Chapter awards luncheon will include a sit-down, full-menu offering at Spinelli’s.

      Freedoms Foundation honors Americans who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their communities about the values of good citizenship. The foundation has recognized several thousand dedicated individuals and organizations in its 65-year existence. Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching all citizens the principles upon which our nation was founded. The organization seeks to convey the close link between the rights and the responsibilities of citizens in a free society. Further information about the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge can found here.

Source: Ed Coletta, Freedoms Foundation

Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation to Present George Washington Honor Medals: Nov. 15

Former Boston Mayor Menino, Operation Troop Support in Danvers and Community Activists from East Boston, Boston and Winthrop to be Honored at Ceremonies in Lynnfield
   
The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will present prestigious George Washington Honor Medals in memory of former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and to Operation Troop Support in Danvers and its founders Dick and Christine Moody.

The Chapter will also present “Spirit of '76” Awards for meritorious service and patriotism to East Boston businessman and philanthropist Benito Tauro and honorable mentions to businessman and activist Donato Frattaroli of Boston and community volunteer Lt. Frank Scarpa Jr. of Winthrop.

The awards will be presented at the Bay State Chapter’s 34st Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at 12:30 p.m., in Spinelli’s Banquet Facility, Rt. 1 South in Lynnfield. Tickets are $50.

"Our long-time friend Mayor Menino, who recently passed away, and Dick and Christine Moody of Operation Troop Support represent the best ideals of America – selfless service to community, helping those in need and working to provide a better tomorrow for the generations to follow," said Joseph V. Ferrino, Sr., Founder and Executive Director of Bay State Chapter, Freedoms Foundation. "We honor these individuals and their work with a national George Washington Honor Medal because they have made a difference in the lives of countless citizens in our city and across our state."

Thomas Menino was the mayor of Boston for 20 years before retiring in January 2014, and he served as a city councilor from Hyde Park from 1983 to 1994. During his unprecedented service to the city, he was known as “The People’s Mayor” and “The Neighborhood Mayor” because he was beloved by its citizens and he never forgot the people who inhabited the city’s many distinct and diverse enclaves.

Mayor Menino’s legacy can be seen throughout the City of Boston in new infrastructure, schools, parks and playgrounds, community gardens, public art, libraries, police and fire stations, better housing, renovated school yards, professional development programs for teachers, higher test scores for students and a reduction in crime rates across the city. He also championed many worthwhile development projects that made Boston a better place in which to live and work. He was also compassionate, never forgetting the homeless person who needed a meal, the child who wanted to go to summer camp or the teenager who needed a summer job. And when tragedy struck, such as the 9/11 terrorist attack or the Boston Marathon bombing, he was the leader who helped comfort the victims and honor their sacrifices.

Operation Troop Support was begun in 2003 by Dick and Christine Moody of Danvers to help veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and to boost the spirits of wounded veterans coming back from the battlefield. The Moodys began collecting badly needed items, packaging them and sending the care packages to military hospitals overseas and then directly to soldiers in the field. As word spread, more and more of the troops sought to receive the care packages.

The Moodys and volunteers who assisted them soon widened their mission to include Christmas gifts, a monthly military family support group and free legal advice for soldiers in need. During the 12 years of serving the troops, Operation Troop Support has shipped more than 250,000 care packages to deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. This work was accomplished with the help of thousands of volunteers from hundreds of supportive organizations in the Greater Boston area.
   
Benito Tauro of East Boston will be honored with the Bay State Chapter “Spirit of '76” Award for his dedication to the good works of Freedoms Foundation, and his many years of community service and philanthropy. He is a long-time member of the Bay State Chapter and has served on many Chapter committees, including Youth Activities, Christmas Gala and Finance. He owned and operated a number of businesses in the East Boston area, which included sportswear, dry cleaning, hardware and later the Rapino and Kirby Rapino Funeral Homes. He was a member and past president of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce, and an active member of the Dante Alighieri Society and the Kiwanis Club.

Donato Frattaroli of Boston will receive a “Spirit of ’76” honorable mention for his long-time success as a restauranteur and his community service. He has owned and operated restaurants such as Lucia, Fillippo, Via Veneto and Artu. Besides the Freedoms Foundation, he has also been active in such community organizations as Casa Monte Cassino, Order Sons of Italy in America, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, the North End Business Alliance, the Dante Alighieri Society, the Pirandello Lyceum, the North End Athletic Association and Italia Unita-East Boston.

Lt. Frank Scarpa Jr. of Winthop will receive a “Spirit of ‘76” honorable mention for his successful career in law enforcement and his commitment to the children of Winthrop. During his long career, he has started programs in the Winthrop schools about drug and alcohol awareness, mock trials, “stranger danger” and “sacred straight” that help keep local youth involved in positive activities. He has championed town-wide programs like “Operation Blue Light” and “National Night Out” as a way to fight crime. And he has been actively involved in the successful Winthrop Police Explorers Post #99, which has earned numerous state and national awards for its youth members.

Tickets to the Bay State Chapter awards luncheon are $50 and are available from Chapter Founder and Executive Director Joseph V. Ferrino by calling 617-846-2122.

Freedoms Foundation honors Americans who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their communities about the values of good citizenship. The foundation has recognized several thousand dedicated individuals and organizations in its 63-year existence. Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching all citizens the principles upon which our nation was founded. The organization seeks to convey the close link between the rights and the responsibilities of citizens in a free society.

June 28: Freedoms Foundation to Install New Officers and Members, Honor High School Students during Annual Meeting in East Boston

(East Boston, June 10, 2014)  The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will host its Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 28, starting at 12:30 p.m. in Spinelli’s Function Hall, Day Square, East Boston.

The meeting will feature the installation of new officers, board directors and new members for the 2014-15 chapter year and a chapter business meeting.
 
The meeting will also feature a video report on the Youth Leadership Conference to the Freedoms Foundation campus in Valley Forge, PA back in April, which was attended by 10 high school juniors sponsored by the Bay State Chapter and its members. 

Those students, from East Boston High School, Boston Latin School, Revere High School and Winthrop High School, will be honored for their efforts.
 
To RSVP for the annual meeting or for more information on the Bay State Chapter, contact Freedoms Foundation Executive Director Joseph Ferrino Sr. at 617-846-2122. Lunch will be served during the meeting.

Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation to present G. Washington Honor Medals on Nov. 9

Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh, Hospitality Homes of Boston, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, and Thomas Materazzo of Boston to be Honored at Ceremonies in East Boston

The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will present prestigious George Washington Honor Medals to two community environmental preservation groups and an organization that provides temporary housing to families visiting the City of Boston during a loved one’s medical procedure. The Chapter will also present a “Spirit of '76” Award for meritorious service and patriotism to a long-time veteran’s affairs official in the City of Boston.

The awards will be presented at the Bay State Chapter’s 33st Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 12:30 p.m., in Spinelli’s Banquet Facility, Day Square, East Boston. Tickets are $40.

The Honor Medal will be presented to: The Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh; Hospitality Homes of Boston; and the Ipswich River Watershed Association.

“The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, Hospitality Homes, and the Ipswich River Watershed Association all represent the best ideals of America – selfless service to community, helping those in need and preserving and protecting our natural resources,” said Joseph V. Ferrino, Sr., Founder and Executive Director of Bay State Chapter, Freedoms Foundation. “We honor these organizations with the George Washington Honor Medal because they have made a difference in the lives of countless citizens around our state and across this country.”

Thomas Matarazzo of Boston will be honored with the Bay State Chapter “Spirit of '76” Award for his dedication to the good works of Freedoms Foundation, and his many years of serving and supporting military veterans in the City of Boston.

The Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh is a grassroots environmental organization, formed in the early 1980s to help preserve the marsh and publicize its importance as an urban natural resource. Belle Isle Marsh is a 350-acre reservation administered by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Among the largest surviving salt marches in Boston Harbor, Belle Isle features plants and wildlife now rare to the Boston metropolitan area. The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh is a group of community-based volunteers who seek to protect the marsh from development and promote its environmental significance through educational and recreational activities available to the public.
 
Hospitality Homes of Boston provides free short-term housing in volunteer host homes and donated apartments for families and friends of patients seeking care at Boston-area hospitals. Since 1983, this unique home-away-from-home experience has brought a compassionate response, as well as emotional and financial relief to guests in need. These services are made possible by the generosity of volunteer hosts and supporters. Thirty years ago, Hospitality Homes was the first program of its kind in the nation, and since then, the organization has served more than 14,000 families.

The Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) serves as a “Voice of the River” that was once one of the most stressed waterways in the country and is now being brought back to health and vitality thanks to the hard work and caring of its volunteers and professional staff. Through advocacy, education and conservation, the IRWA has improved stream flow in the Ipswich and saved the river. The organization has reached thousands of people through educational programs, inspiring people to enjoy the scenic beauty of the river and use its resources wisely. IRWA offers use of its canoe dock, sponsors fireside chats, develops school curricula and educational materials, offers programs on how to save water, supports low-impact development and water resource protection and trains citizen-scientists who help monitor the health of the Ipswich River.

Thomas Materazzo of Boston – the Spirit of ’76 Award winner – was the Commissioner of Veterans Services for the City of Boston for more than 27 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served in combat during World War II. As Veterans Services commissioner, he was instrumental in erecting memorials to those killed in action in the Korean and Vietnam wars, along with refurbishing the World War II Monument. He also initiated a program to award more than 200 high school diplomas to WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans who left school before graduation to join the service. He is a long-time member of the Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation and is a Past President of the organization.

Tickets to the Bay State Chapter awards luncheon are $40 and are available from Chapter Founder and Executive Director Joseph V. Ferrino by calling 617-846-2122.

Freedoms Foundation honors Americans who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their communities about the values of good citizenship, either through teaching or by example. The foundation has recognized several thousand dedicated individuals and organizations in its 63-year existence.

Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching all citizens the principles upon which our nation was founded. The organization seeks to convey the close link between the rights and the responsibilities of citizens in a free society.

Freedom Foundation Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers

Freedom Foundation Annual Meeting and Installation

The officers and board members of the Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation for the 2011-12 season are (seated, l-r) Lino Rullo, Francine D’Andrea, President Joseph Ferrino Jr., Marisa DiPietro and Past President Ed Coletta, and (standing, l-r) Richard Ferrino, Sal Bramante, Buddy Mangini, Ron Vecchia, Barbara Survillas, Philip Salois, and Riccardo Rullo.

More photographs at Eastboston.com