Mansfield Dedicates New Flagpole To Honor Fallen Soldier

MANSFIELD (CBS) - Mansfield spent Sunday honoring one of its native sons.

The town celebrated the life of U.S. Army specialist Corey Shea by dedicating a new South Common flagpole in his memory.

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and Congressman Barney Frank were both on hand.

Shea was killed by a gunman while serving in Iraq in 2008.

His mother was on hand at the ceremony, and she said it means a lot to know her son is not forgotten.

"It means everything to me. And Corey would be smiling down...he knows what's going on. He would be smiling right now just knowing that the whole community came out to honor him," said Denise M. Anderson, Corey's mom.

The idea to replace the old rusted South Common flagpole with a new version and dedicate it to Shea was organized by Selectman Jess Aptowitz and veterans agent John Hogan.

More than $40,000 in donations were raised to make it happen.