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7-Year-Old Raises Money To Help Stoughton Purchase Giant Flag

STOUGHTON, Mass. (AP) — When Christine Iacobucci went to cover the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 for a local website last year, she couldn't get a babysitter for her daughter Isabella so she brought her along.

Isabella was so impressed by the ceremony, she got up at the end and sang a few bars of a patriotic song she had learned at school.

"Everybody was crying," Christine said.

Later, Isabella talked to the fire chief and found out that Stoughton had to borrow a large flag to display for special occasions like the Sept. 11 memorial.

One year later, the flag that Isabella, 7, helped Stoughton purchase flew high over the center of town, attracting shutterbugs from far and wide.

The flag measures 30 feet by 60 feet, said Capt. Jim Bertram.

"It's impressive," he said, standing by the display on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack.

Iacobucci said fundraising for the flag, which cost about $2,400, began in earnest last Veterans Day when she and her daughter went to the Randolph Savings Bank to open an account.

"I've never done a fundraiser before," she said, adding the bank helped with organizing the finances behind the drive.

Six months later, mostly through word-of-mouth and Facebook, Isabella was well on her way to raising the money.

The flag flew for the first time outside town meeting earlier this year, and has been on display for other events like the Fourth of July and Flag Day.

Iacobucci said the details of the Sept. 11 attack weren't something she had discussed much at home with Isabelle.

"I was flabbergasted," she said of the girl's decision to sing in front of the crowd last year, but added that her daughter is naturally empathetic.

Isabella drove by the displayed flag on her way to school last Tuesday, and reacted with the typical understatement of a 7-year-old.

"She said, 'That was so cool.' My son said, 'Look at Bella's flag,'" said Iacobucci. "It was definitely one of those proud mommy moments."

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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