TREMONT, Ill. – The community of Tremont is remembering a local resident who recently passed away but left a legacy of community service.
Alan Sanders was an Army veteran, but served the Tremont Fire Department for 50 years.
And, Sunday, flags were planted throughout the community in his honor.
“The community said ‘We need to do something for Alan, what do we do?’” Jeffrey Hastings, president of The Flagman’s Mission Continues said, to news partner 25 News. “Then they remembered the flagman from us doing ‘Soldiers Killed in Action’ from this community not long ago in 2018 and they said, ‘Somebody figure out a way to get a hold of flag guys, and lets put up flags,’”
“The Flagman’s Mission Continues” is named after the late Larry Eckhardt of the Quad Cities area, who traveled the country placing flags in memory of fallen soldiers.
“He wasn’t all about himself,” Rick Otey, Sanders’ friend, said. “So he was out to help people. A good man, beautiful family.”
Sanders’ funeral is Tuesday. He passed away December 12.
