A Hero from Massachusetts is Honored in Ceremony at the Pentagon
HALL OF HEROS
New Bedford Standard-Times
Ayesha Aleem
Boston University Washington News Service
Sept. 18, 2009
WASHINGTON. – At a formal ceremony that celebrated his life, Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti of Raynham was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon on Friday. Described at the event as the Pentagon’s most sacred place, the Hall of Heroes honors recipients of the Medal of Honor.
Monti was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Thursday by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at The White House. The soldier’s parents, Paul and Janet Monti, and his brother, Timothy, and sister, Nicole, attended the ceremony. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates were also present at the White House. This is the first Medal of Honor presented by President Obama.
The Pentagon ceremony, attended by approximately 200 family members, friends and soldiers who served with Monti, began with the national anthem and a prayer. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the Army, speaking of Monti, said, “Thank you for being of service to the Army and this nation.”
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren quoted Calvin Coolidge: “No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”
Based on information provided by family members, Geren narrated how Monti had sat at the kitchen table at his Aunt Patricia’s house in Plymouth, Mass., while on leave. That was their last conversation where aunt and nephew spoke about Monti’s future – the possibility of college, starting a family.
“But for now, the priority was the military,” said Geren.
William J. Lynn, deputy secretary of defense, addressing Monti’s parents, said, “We salute your son. We honor him, we salute him and we will always remember him.”
Against a blue-curtained backdrop, Monti’s parents, with members of the military, unveiled the Hall of Heroes plaque honoring their son. Paul Monti received a standing ovation before reminiscing about his son’s life. “I accept this award in his name and thank each one of you men and women in the Army who protect our freedom and our way of life.”
A gallery at the entrance of the auditorium displayed childhood and other photographs of Monti.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the Unites States to a member of the armed forces for demonstrating gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty and at the risk of life. Only 3,448 Medals of Honor have been given since the award was established in 1862.
Thirty-year-old Monti was a team leader in Afghanistan heading a 16-man patrol which had been on the road for three days when it encountered as many as 50 enemy fighters on June 21, 2006. He was killed in a grenade blast, during a third attempt to rescue a wounded comrade.
He is the sixth service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the launch of the Global War on Terror in 2001 and the first Massachusetts resident to receive this honor since 1970, when Navy Capt. Thomas G. Kelley was honored for actions in the Vietnam War. Kelley is currently the secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services of Massachusetts.
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