LITTLE YORK, Ill. — Four years after he passed away, dozens came to the Little York Cemetery for the dedication of Larry "The Flag Man" Eckhardt's headstone.
Eckhardt was known for placing hundreds — sometimes thousands — of American flags at the funerals and processions of soldiers and first responders who died in the line of duty. Over 14 years, he went on about 300 "missions" honoring those who served.
He died on March 31, 2020, after battling thyroid cancer and its complications for more than two years.
One of Eckhardt's closest friends, Jeff Hastings, found out that there had never been a headstone made two years ago.
"We put the word out and called for the community's help, and people that knew Larry, to buy him a headstone," Hastings said.
Over three weeks, the community raised nearly $7,000. The headstone was installed late last year.
Eckhardt's cousin, Katherine Chambers, remembers him as a humble man — so humble that he hid his military service from his family.
"Larry kept the fact that he was a Marine a secret," Chambers said. "We had no idea, my parents never knew.”
Chambers said her mother was very close to Eckhardt — not even she knew about his service.
"She wondered why he was so committed to the mission that he was. And now it's very blatantly obvious why," Chambers said.
Kathleen Skalla, Eckhardt's youngest daughter, said she remembers his sense of humor, honesty and big heart.
“He would go and help people that he didn't know," Skalla said. "He would go — out of pocket — go to any place that called him up and needed some flags.”
Jeff Hastings had been prepared to become the next Flag Man since 2019, when Eckhardt asked him to continue the missions if he wasn't able to.
"And I said if the time ever comes Larry, I'll be there to carry on and continue on and help you or do it for you," Hastings said. "So I didn't know that a year later — a year and a month later, Larry would die from thyroid cancer."
Now, Hastings is the President and CEO of The Flagman's Mission Continued.
Since Eckhardt's passing, The Flagman's Mission Continued has placed flags for 175 funerals across 12 states. The nonprofit owns and maintains 2,600 flags, enough to line a 14-mile funeral route.
To make a donation or get involved, visit their website.
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