Many honoring fallen Boston soldier by volunteering in his native country

BOSTON — Honoring the life of a local soldier with a week of service, Monday morning several people, including police officers and firefighters, are on their way to Cape Verde.

Organized by the Cape Verdean Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, the volunteers will improve and renovate a hospital in the fallen hero's native country.

United States Army Sgt. Alberto Montrond was 27 when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2006, 10 years after emigrating to the States. A plaque to honor his ultimate sacrifice was previously unveiled at the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Jamaica Plain.

Two Boston firefighters whose families each originally came from Cape Verde, a small island nation off the western coast of Africa, felt moved to take the trip.

"At least do what we can in a short period of time," said Boston firefighter John Soares. "Hopefully make an impact. That’s what we’re looking to do.”

Boston firefighter and combat veteran Alector Tavares said he was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and remembers when Montrond was killed.

“My mom called. The community’s small. And then she had tears in her eyes. ’We just lost a fellow Cape Verdean down there in Afghanistan,'" Tavares said.

During this week's mission, a plaque will be dedicated at the hospital, cementing Montrond's legacy and his memory.

"His family will be there and I feel like they’ll be honored," Tavares said. "Just to let them know that no one forgot. It’s been some years but no one forgot about him and never will.”

Cox Media Group