(Estherville)– Dozens of people have helped arrange more than 2,000 American flags in honor a fallen U.S. Army soldier from Estherville.
Twenty-seven-year-old Staff Sgt. Steven Blass of Estherville was one of five soldiers killed in the March 11th crash of a helicopter in Afghanistan.
The flags were provided Thursday by Larry Eckhardt of Little York, Illinois, who goes by the nickname of “flag man.”
He’s done the same more than 100 times at other communities. Eckhardt says “There are a lot of freedoms out there that these men and women are guaranteeing us…so it’s important that these flags protect him on his last trip.”
The funeral is scheduled to be held in the Estherville High School gym Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
On a related note, Governor Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26th, in Blass’ honor.
