Cape & Islands News

Dennis Firefighter’s Wife Sings National Anthem at Bruins Game

Dennis Firefighter's Wife Sings National Anthem at Bruins Game 

Fire Department Honor Guard Presents Colors

   ^{Dianne sets the house on fire with her rendition of  "The Star Spangled Banner"}

Story & photos by Kevin Morley

BOSTON – Even though the Boston Bruins dropped a heartbreaker with a 1 - 0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers Tuesday night, the game was still a winning experience for a contingent from the Dennis Fire Department.

Dianne Adelizzi, wife of Dennis firefighter/paramedic John Adelizzi, captivated the 16,000-strong TD BankNorth Garden crowd with the singing of The Star Spangled Banner while the Dennis Fire Department Honor Guard presented the colors.

Dianne, a pre-K aide at Saint Pius X School in South Yarmouth, is also the Cantor at Saint Pius X Church. Her path to the home ice in Boston started just down the road in Everett where she grew up. While in high school, and later in college at Suffolk University, she sang lead roles in an variety of musicals ranging from “West Side Story” to “The Sound of Music.” She also participated in pageants, winning the title of Miss Greater Boston in 1983. She even appeared on “Community Auditions,” that venerable Boston TV showcase of local talent hosted by Dave Maynard. Dianne never formally studied music, relying instead on her “God-given gift.” And that gift was on display Tuesday night as she strode confidently out onto the carpet from the Zamboni pit at rink level for the second year in a row.

The crowd listened quietly through the first three-quarters of the anthem but, as the end approached, the fans in the stands started cheering, urging Dianne on and eliciting from her a powerful and thrilling finale. The applause was thunderous as she waved and followed the Honor Guard off the ice where she was congratulated by her husband and 10-year-old son, Anthony.

Compared to her first performance last year, Tuesday’s “was more relaxed,” she says. “I knew what to expect.” Last year’s appearance was orchestrated by her husband who encouraged her to send in an audition tape. Two weeks after she mailed the tape, the Bruins called and she was on the schedule.

Honor Guard stands tall

Carrying the American flag, the Massachusetts flag and two ceremonial fire axes, Lt. Anthony Kent, Lt. Christopher Guerreiro, FF Geoffrey Mulholland, and FF Daniel O’Connell followed Dianne out onto the carpet and performed a brisk “right face.” Throughout singing of the anthem, the four Dennis firefighters stood at attention, betraying no emotion, even as the crowd went wild at the end and the rink shook. They saved their emotion until they got off the ice, ecstatic, because, as one said – “no one tripped!”

The spectacle of the Bruins pregame show was a first for the men of the Honor Guard. They are usually called into service for somewhat smaller events ranging from weddings, retirement parties, and funerals. Of course, this Saturday they will march in the annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Parade across the Bass River Bridge from Dennis into Yarmouth. If past parades are any indication, a crowd three times the size of the Bruins faithful might cheer them on.

The second-oldest fire department honor guard on the Cape behind Hyannis, the Dennis group was formed in 1998 by Kent and O’Connell. Since its inception, the Honor Guard has grown to seven members, who alternate their participation to accommodate their duty schedules. FF Michael Hersey, FF Timothy Tobin, and FF Vincent Raspante round out the crew. FF Timothy Chicoine assisted the Honor Guard in Boston as the equipment manager.

Now that Dianne has two performances under her belt and the Honor Guard has proven their sure-footedness -- next stop Fenway Park?

Above photos, top right: the DFD Honor Guard at attention (l-r): Dan O’Connell, Chris Guerreiro, Jeff Mulholland, Tony Kent.  Below:  the DFD team poses with the NESN SportsDesk team (l-r): Dan O’Connell, Jeff Mulholland, Kathryn Tappen, Tony Kent, Chris Guerreiro, Mike Milbury.