War Hero’s Dad Hoping To Plant 50,000 Flags At Bourne Cemetery

By Bill Shields, WBZ-TV

May 26, 2011 11:59 PM

One father is hoping do honor his son by planting flags at a cemetery in Bourne.

Reporting Bill Shields

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BOURNE (CBS) – A father’s grief will soon be turned into a patriotic show of color at the National Cemetery in Bourne.

“After we buried my son there, I tried to put a flag on his marker, and I was told it wasn’t allowed,” said Paul Monti.

WBZ-TV’s Bill Shields reports.

His son, Sgt. First Class Jared Monti, died in Afghanistan almost five years ago, in a hail of gunfire, as he was trying to save his own men. Sgt. Monti was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

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But now, Paul Monti has succeeded in changing the no-flag rule at the National Cemetery, at least for the Memorial Day weekend. He, and a handful of volunteers, will be placing 50,000 flags at the cemetery, one on every nameplate.

“Flags represent everything that we hold dear in this country…and they are reminders that a lot of people gave their lives so we can live free,” said Monti.

So Saturday morning, the volunteers will show up in Bourne to start the back-breaking job of placing the small flags in the ground.

The graceful hills of the cemetery will be covered with red, white, and blue, a colorful contrast to the solid green of the grass, which can sometimes obscure the nameplates of the 47,000 people who are buried there.

War Heros Dad Hoping To Plant 50,000 Flags At Bourne Cemetery

Peter Nivling

it is absolutely ok with me!
LP Duncan

How do we volunteer for this
Tom F

unable to click the volunteer link…pleasae help
LBJ

I was told flags will be placed starting at noon on Saturday.
I will be there.
Freedom is not free.
Judy DeCourcy

Dear Matt, My God bless you for what you are doing. I am unable to volunteer. Hope the enclosed will help in a small way.
Judy Pollock

So Happy this is finally being done to Honor all the Veterans at the Bourne National Cemetery…Thank you Mr. Monti..
Luci Skwarto Lebedew

what an honor–and a beautiful statement–Thank you for a wonderful plan–would love to consider volunteering in the future–just got the news and i am unable to make this today–my mom and dad were both in the army in WWII–and are buried there–a very peacefull place
Dorothy Donlan

My parents, Warren and Sheila Kelson are buried a few rows from Jared and our family has paused many times at Jared’s grave to honor this fine soldier who gave his life at such a young age. My daughter was there today just when this area was having the flags placed one by one. She and her friend were able to help out and she was deeply touched. My parents always had a flag flying, sometimes more than one. Laura was able to honor her grandparents by placing one on each of their stones. Thank you Mr. Monti.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/05/28/dads-effort-pays-off-volunteers-plant-56000-flags-at-bourne-cemetery/ Dad’s Effort Pays Off, Volunteers Plant 56,000 Flags At Bourne Cemetery « CBS Boston

[...] Monti was hoping he and others would be able to plant a total of 50,000 flags. They managed to do even better, with 56,000. [...]
http://soldiersystems.net/2011/05/29/volunteers-plant-56000-flags-at-boston-area-veterans-cemetery/ Volunteers Plant 56,000 Flags at Boston Area Veterans Cemetery « Soldier Systems

[...] efforts are the result of his frustration at being unable to place a flag on his son’s grave. The good news is, he was able to get a waiver to the policy. The bad news? It is only for Memorial [...]
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/16/father-of-fallen-soldier-looks-for-help-placing-flags-in-bourne-cemetery/ Father Of Fallen Soldier Looks For Help Placing Flags In Bourne Cemetery « CBS Boston

[...] After a four-year-fight, and with the help of Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Scott Brown, Monti was given permission. Last year, 800 volunteers came out to help on Veterans Day. [...]