Fallen Soldier Honored In Raynham
RAYNHAM (CBS)- Hundreds gathered on Sunday to say thank you to military men and women at the American Legion post in Raynham.
In a Veterans Day ceremony, the post dedicated a memorial to Army Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, a Medal of Honor recipient shot and killed after making three attempts to save a fellow soldier.
"It's just the way he lived his life," said Jared's father, Paul, at the ceremony.
Paul Monti went on to describe various times throughout Jared's life when he gave selflessly to others.
"Jared was in second grade and a young girl fell down and scraped her knee. The teacher said she couldn't believe it because the first person there to pick her up was Jared," Monti recalled.
SFC Monti died in Afghanistan in 2006. Since that time, his hometown has renamed a bridge and a park in his honor. Paul Monti regularly organizes volunteers to place 50,000 flags at the National Cemetery in Bourne.
"[He was an] outstanding soldier," commented Sergeant William Farwell, who didn't know SFC Monti but says he strives to serve with the same honor. "Some of the stuff he did, as a leader in the military you want to aspire to be just like he was - a true soldier."
Lt. Governor Tim Murray attended the event Sunday and asked the crowd to do more to help the military families around them. Murray encouraged people to reach out to veterans and help them sign up for benefits they're entitled to through various government programs.
"Like Jared Monti, we must go back and do more," said Murray.
