When you visit a flea market, you can expect to find a lot of interesting things…
Walter Brown was checking one south of Hemphill, Texas, with his wife, Lani. The couple were there to buy a holster for Lanie’s new Walter P22 pistol, but it was a pile of flags that drew them in.
Walter called his wife Lani, “Come see this,” moments after looking at the flags. It turns out that he made an impressive discovery…
Walter had an old flag covered in writing in his hands, so the couple started reading.
The words appeared on the white lines of a fallen corporal. TODAY reported that one message read: ‘Fred, you were a good Marine and we will always remember you’, while another read: ‘Hey pranksters, wherever you are, make sure to keep a eye on us.”
Lani realized the rank was for the Marines, as her son and brother-in-law had served with them. Said’s sons explained to him and Walter that it was their “greeting flag”, which should have been included in a family’s Marines packet after it was signed by everyone else. members of his platoon.
After some research, Brown decided the flag was for Fred Lee Maciel, a 20-year-old Marine who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005.
Thanks to this information, they were able to find Patsy, Fred’s mother. Years and years after losing her son in a helicopter crash, she receives a letter telling her that Walter and Lani have something she wants.
However, the Browns were aware that such an important gift could not simply be sent by airmail or regular delivery. There was no choice but to present it to Patsy by hand.
“Patsy, our family is very proud that we chose to find this flag,” Lani told Fred’s mother, presenting her with the tribute flag.
“Thank you for sharing that part of your boy with us.”
The two hugged in front of family members and loved ones at the fallen Marine’s grave. Farid was one of 31 American soldiers killed in an accident 220 miles west of Baghdad.
Maciel said the occasion brought the whole family together, just as his son wanted.
“Fred’s goal was to get the whole family together and play basketball or football or whatever it takes to have a good time. And he did it again. The whole family was together again.”
“The family now has this piece of him and my heart is finally healing.”
All the men and women in our service deserve respect, love and support, as do the families of those who risk and sometimes sacrifice their lives every day.
