God Bless Monti

One of our modern day Band of Brothers, Sergeant First Class Jared Monti from Raynham, Massachusetts has been awarded the Medal of Honor three years after he died trying to rescue wounded comrades during a battle with Taliban in Afghanistan.

The President called the family of SFC Jared Monti this week to inform them of the honor. A ceremony will be held at the White House on Sept. 17. It is the first Medal of Honor awarded under the Obama administration.

Jared’s father, Paul Monti, says the news that his son is receiving the nation’s highest military honor is bittersweet because he would rather have his son back. Paul said the President told me the nation was proud of my son, and he was proud of my son and was sure I was proud of my son. “It ensures him a place in history, but I’d much rather have him with me.”

Monti’s unit was involved in a firefight with insurgents on June 21, 2006.

Showing “immeasurable courage and uncommon valor” Monti pulled one wounded comrade to safety but was killed trying to rescue another.

Monti’s mother, Janet, told The Boston Globe that her son was helping fellow Soldiers reach cover when he was shot to death. She said he saved the life of one wounded Soldier before he was shot.

Christopher Cunningham, an Army Ranger who was with Monti’s unit that day, nominated Monti for the Medal of Honor. “I’ve seen my fair share of fighting with the enemy, and that was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen a Soldier do, what he did was amazing.”

In 12 years of service, Monti was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, five Army Commendation medals, four Army Achievement medals, three Good Conduct medals and three National Defense medals, according to the Web site for a scholarship fund started in his honor.

We can never repay Jared's parents, Paul and Janet, for their wonderful son. I only hope that our words and thoughts ease their pain. Their son took the road less traveled and it because of people like him, not the powerful, greedy and arrogant politicians, that our nation is great. We can seek comfort and knowledge and guarantee from Yeshua that after our brief life on this planet is finished we will join Jared and the Lord in heaven.

Many people and friends are waiting down the "road" Jared has taken. Healing is waiting down that "road" for his parents, loved ones and friends. Deliverance and forgiveness and reconciliation and restoration are waiting down that "road". The eternal Kingdom is waiting down that "road." So death do not be proud.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet, knowing how way leads onto way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

At the end of the movie Band of Brothers Major Dick Winters recalls a question his grandchild asked him. The child asked Major Winters if he was a hero in the war and Major Winters replied: No, I was not a hero but I had the privilege and honor of serving with and knowing many heroes.

I would like to add to what Major Winters said. I feel the heroes are the wounded members of the military and the dead soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, merchant seamen and Coast Guardsmen who did not come back alive.

I pray that God Blesses SFC Jared Monti and his parents and God continues to bless the United States of America.