Paul Monti, father of Medal of Honor recipient Jared Monti, recently spoke to high school students about his son’s sacrifice and legacy.
By Kevin Cullen GLOBE COLUMNIST
The Army band was warming up, the sound checks were still taking place, and Beth and Steve Sammis were standing in the sunshine in the Seaport, talking about their son, Ben.
Marine Captain Ben Sammis, from Rehoboth, was killed in Iraq in 2003 when the helicopter he was piloting went down in combat. His parents stood there, talking about Ben’s virtues, about what they miss most, when his dad said this:
“It’s the way Ben took care of his friends.”
By Laura Crimaldi GLOBE STAFF
Was it worth it?
It’s a question Lauren Ayube has considered countless times since a suicide bomber killed her husband, James, in Afghanistan nearly six years ago.
On Friday, she confronted that question again as a memorial bearing the name of US Army Sergeant James A. Ayube II and 217 other soldiers was dedicated in the Seaport District.
A memorial to local heroes arrives in Boston. The 50-foot memorial for the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes was escorted by State Police to South Boston.
Massachusetts Fallen Heroes is pleased to announce the first-ever, 10 day series of events honoring local veterans and families of the Fallen known as Patriot Week will run May 20 – May 30, 2016.
The announcement took place at the future home to the organization’s 50-foot memorial, which will be dedicated on May 27, 2016 to honor the sons and daughters of the Commonwealth who gave their lives since September 11, 2001 in service to the United States in the Global War on Terrorism.
The memorial is a five-sided diaphanous column with each side signifying the five branches of service. Throughout the day the waterfront’s light will reflect upon the tour. The tower is also illuminated internally, making it visible from vantage points around the harbor and downtown Boston through the evening hours. The memorial will stand as a symbol of remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for our nation.
“Many years of hard work and passion have been put into this memorial and we are excited to finally give our fallen the dedication and remembrance that they deserve,” said Dan Magoon, executive director of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes. “In conjunction with the unveiling of the memorial, we are thrilled to launch the first-ever Patriot Week which will invite the Commonwealth to partake in educational programming and festivities throughout the week.”
Highlights of Patriot Week include:
In addition to these key events of Patriot Week, various events will take place throughout the week to honor the fallen. All events are open to the public and Massachusetts Fallen Heroes gives special thanks to Presenting Sponsor: Suffolk Construction Company and its Chairman & CEO, John Fish.
SOUTH BOSTON (WHDH) –
A new memorial dedicated to those who lost their life in combat will be dedicated in South Boston next month.
Massachusetts Fallen Heroes said the monument will stand at Seaport Square Park. The memorial will have the 218 names of Massachusetts servicemen and servicewomen killed in battle since Sept. 11.
The organization will also be holding events Patriot Week, the week leading up to Memorial Day. The memorial itself will be dedicated on May 27.
Boston Globe – Kevin Cullen
“People in our military give so much,” she told me. “Why not give them something back? Why not give someone serving in the military a beautiful outdoor wedding?”
Why not indeed. The people at Massachusetts Fallen Heroes were natural partners. They are spearheading the construction of a memorial to all those from Massachusetts who have died in service to the country since 9/11. But they are just as concerned with the living as the dead.
Boston Globe – “There are few things you get as a veteran after you leave the service, and one of them is a ‘Thank you,’ ” Dan Magoon, a Boston firefighter and …
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Massachusetts Fallen Heroes is a recognized 501(c) 3 Tax-Deductible public charity.