Patriot Ledger
By Jenna Manto
BRAINTREE — William “Officer Bill” Varroso stepped up for his family when they needed him the most during the Great Depression and again for his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy, Varroso’s younger brother Alfred Varraso said during the town’s Memorial Day observance ceremony at town hall on Sunday.
“He was much more than a big brother to me,” Varraso said. “He was the man of the house.”
Veterans and residents of all ages filled the auditorium in Braintree’s town hall during the town’s Memorial Day ceremony, honoring the late World War II veteran William “Officer Bill” Varroso.
The ceremony is typically held at the Blue Hill Cemetery in the Garden of Honor, but was moved inside town hall due to the rain.
The brothers spell their last names differently because of a Navy clerical error on paperwork.
Alfred Varraso, who is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, spoke about his brother’s commitment and loyalty to his family as a 12-year-old kid, taking any jobs he could when their father walked out on them. He also talked about his brother’s dedication to his country during World War II, when Varroso was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions during the day his ship, the USS Underhill was struck by a Japanese torpedo.
“He spent hours on the water with other shipmates trying to survive while waiting for other ships…to rescue him,” Varasso said. “While he never spoke of the incident, there was one rare…sitting around, a few of us lucky enough to have been there when he spoke of the horrors of that night. He recalled the ‘fear in the air and the red in the water.’”
Varraso said his older brother held many titles as a “loving husband, proud father, dedicated son, big brother, loyal friend,” but was known to many as “Officer Bill,” as he spent more than 30 years as a police officer with the Braintree Police Department where he eventually took the role of safety officer.
Varraso said that everyone who knew his brother loved him. He taught elementary school students about safety and respect as safety officer, held various positions with the town, and after his retirement, he volunteered at two nursing homes.
“I’ll always be proud of his reputation,” Varraso said, “…Everyone who knew him loved him. He will be greatly missed. As you can see…Bill was a fighter. Never one to give up.”
Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros and Congressman Stephen Lynch were also in attendance during the Memorial Day observance at town hall.
“It’s very important for us to take time this weekend to make sure that we remember those fallen heroes who have given us our freedoms,” Mayor Kokoros said after the ceremony, “and as I mentioned earlier, when people are out socializing, take a moment to reflect upon and show some respect in memory of those that we’ve lost.”
Rep. Lynch spoke about the Gold Star Families, which are the immediate family members of those who have died during active military service, and the town’s history of military service. Lynch said the town does more than just remember our veterans, but honors their memory.
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