Flags for Fallen Hero

LAWRENCEVILLE, IL (WTHI) -       The Wabash Valley prepares to put another fallen hero to rest.

       Specialist Trevor Pinnick of Lawrenceville died during an attack in Afghanistan.

     He is due to return to his hometown Saturday morning.

     His home community is trying to make certain he receives a hero's homecoming.

     Hundreds of volunteers met at the Lawrenceville High School, ready to do something to help honor Specialist Trevor Pinnick.

     The 20 year old Lawrenceville native died while on duty in Afghanistan.

     The volunteers stepped up to put out flags to honor his return.

     Larry Eckhardt organized the tribute.

     "To me, people say I'm a little bit radical sometimes, but I don't think there is any such thing as too many flags for a soldier," said Eckhardt who is known as the flag man.

     The people who went out and began setting the flags in the community agreed.

     "We're a military family and I just felt we should all be here," said volunteer Ruby Waller.

     "I know soldiers who are in Afghanistan, but I've never know one that's actually fallen," said another volunteer Susan Greene.  "I've never known an actual fallen hero, so this has hit really hard, really close to home."

     Putting the flags in place wasn't easy.

    The ground is rock hard, the heat intense.

     This was a labor of gratitude and honor to line the streets of Specialist Pinnick's hometown.

     In all there will be 2,200 flags along this route, all of them to honor a fallen hero.

     "I count it a blessing to be here, you know, Trevor gave his life so we could be here and do this," said Waller.

     "I'm very honored to be a part of something like this," explained Greene.  "I'm really sad that we're doing it."

     Planting flags to prepare for a homecoming for a soldier who died so far away.

     Specialist Pinnick is due to arrive at the Mid-America Air Center at 9 Central Time and will be escorted through both Lawrenceville and Vincennes on the way to the Funeral Home.