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Father Of Fallen Soldier Looks For Help Placing Flags In Bourne Cemetery

BOURNE (CBS) - The father of fallen soldier Sgt. First Class Jared Monti is once again placing 56,000 flags on the graves of veterans in the Bourne National Cemetery on Veterans Day.

Paul Monti of Raynham is asking for volunteers to help place the flags on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. and to take the flags down on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.

After his son's death in 2006, Monti found out Bourne National Cemetery did not allow flags on the graves.

"My son was killed in Afghanistan six years ago in 2006 and I had him interned at the National Cemetery in Bourne," Monti told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "I brought flags to put on his grave and I was surprised to discover flags were not allowed so I set out to change the policy."

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.

Jared Monti died while trying to save a fellow soldier who was struck in an attack. Monti received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2009.

"He lived the soldier's creed to the letter but he was also a great humanitarian," Monti said. "He really cared about people. He was greatly admired by the people of Afghanistan, where he did all kinds of humanitarian work as well."

For more information on the SFC Jared Monti Foundation and Veterans Day volunteering, visit the website.

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