Private First-Class James V. Orsini served in the Army from April 1943 to November 1945. He served from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured and was a Prisoner of War in Stalag IX-B for almost four months.
Upon being liberated, he returned stateside and finished his military assignment as a member of the Military Police, guarding German Prisoners of War in Houlton, Maine. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 29, 1945, and then returned home. One year later, he married the love of his life, Nina, and enjoyed 73 years of marriage. James passed away at 96 years of age with Nina by his side.
"I'd play hooky a lot and play cards with them all day," Bonino said of his grandparents. "They came to every game, every high school game and a lot of college games. When I was in college, they were in their early to mid-80s, and they would come up to Boston with my parents and my uncle. And then every pro game I ever played, he would call the day of, and that continued until my 600th game."
Bonino was right back to work killing a penalty just seconds after Orsini was honored, but it was a moment he'll never forget.
"It was nice to be able to give him that honor," Bonino said. "I probably should have done it last year for him to see it, but knowing he's watching, it meant a lot to me."