Mass. residents plant flags for vets

BOURNE, Mass. (AP) -- Hundreds of relatives and well-wishers have honored the country's military veterans by planting about 56,000 flags at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

Cemetery policies never permitted flags and flag holders on graves at any time. That changed last fall when the first flags were planted under pressure from Paul Monti of Raynham, whose son was killed by Afghanistan's Taliban fighters while trying to save a fellow soldier in 2006. Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor and is buried in Bourne.

Paul Monti led a brief ceremony Saturday before volunteers began planting flags at the cemetery.
He previously said the flags are a very personal tribute to his son and fellow soldiers killed in service of their country.