The family of fallen Staff Sgt. Nate Howard in Marshalltown, Iowa, has been honored with a special flagpole tribute, thanks to the efforts of the Veteran Flagpole Initiative and his former comrades.
A Tribute to a Fallen Hero
For the past seven months, Howard’s memory has lived on in photos and cherished moments. Now, his legacy extends beyond the walls of his family’s home, with a flagpole installed in their front yard by the nonprofit Veteran Flagpole Initiative.
“We all want to make the world a better place. Rarely do people go out and provide a tangible thing that could be making the world a better place, right? So, you know, we really love doing it,” said Will Hanchett, the organization’s chief of operations.
The tribute involved four days of biking, covering about 176 miles, and concluded with a triumphant final mile run by the men Howard served with overseas.
“It’s just an honor. He made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Roberto Alvarez, one of Howard’s comrades.
The event also included a visit from National Guard helicopters flying overhead.
On Wednesday, the flags representing not just Howard’s service but also his life were finally home.
“I’ve always wanted [a] flagpole in our yard,” Sgt. Howard’s stepfather Jeff said with a chuckle. “Being a police officer for 37 years and the patriotic [feeling]. I’ve always wanted it. And now we have it. That’s really special, to have that. He’s in my heart at all times and on my mind at all times.”
While the flagpole is a meaningful tribute, it doesn’t erase the grief. Howard’s absence is still deeply felt within the family’s home.
“He didn’t go away. He physically is no longer on this earth. But he’s still my son. And he will be forever. And, it’s just nice to have that physical representation to be able to do a little love for [my] kiddo,” said Misty Bunn, Howard’s mother.
For the family, the flags are a way to reconnect, to feel Howard’s spirit, and to carry his legacy forward.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
