Volunteers Plant 37,000 Flags On Boston Common To Honor Mass. Military Heroes
BOSTON (CBS) -- Boston Common has been transformed into a garden of red, white, and blue to honor Massachusetts' military heroes for Memorial Day.
Dozens of volunteers Wednesday planted 37,000 flags in the ground by the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, representing the men and women from the Bay State who made the ultimate sacrifice since the Revolutionary War. The annual tradition is organized by the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund.
"It's a pretty remarkable place to be on Memorial Day," Carlos Arredondo told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz as he planted flags on the Common.
Carlos Arredondo wears the photos of his sons as he plants flags on #bostoncommon #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/l9UR7uL4cc
— Bernice Freedman (@BerniceNews) May 25, 2016
Arredondo, who helped rescue Jeff Bauman in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, wore pictures of his two sons as he worked. One son, Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, was killed in Iraq in 2004. His other son, Brian, who was troubled by his brother's loss, committed suicide seven years later.
"I'm here putting flags, not just to honor my son, but many other sons and daughters," Arredondo said, adding that there's a family behind each flag.
A patriotic scene #BostonCommon #MemorialDayWeekend pic.twitter.com/Dv21FMvLSL
— Bernice Freedman (@BerniceNews) May 25, 2016
Volunteer Geoffrey Spalding of Gloucester said his father and grandfather had fought in World War I and World War II.
"We're all so very fortunate for their sacrifice," said Spalding. "As you're putting in flags, you don't even really realize, and then you turn around 20 minutes later and look over your shoulder, and it's exploded with all the red, white, and blue."
Despite the heat, 12-year-old Lane Lowry kept on pounding flags into the ground. When asked how he felt each time he finished a flag, he said, "Proud of everyone's hard work to protect their country."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports