Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Volunteers from Altamont, Beecher City and Moccasin Illinois area are needed to set up 700 plus US 3×5 foot flags on Sunday November 13th in Altamont, Illinois for the funeral of US Navy Machinist’s Mate First Class Keith W. Tipsword, WWII KIA onboard the USS WEST VIRGINIA during the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI.
On December 7th, 1941, The USS WEST VIRGINIA was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits and 106 crewmen perished, including Tipsword. Help is needed on Wednesday November 16th to take the flags down and reload them into The Flagman’s Mission Continues van.
Flags will be set up on Sunday November 13th. Meet at 1:00 PM at the Gieseking Schwerdtfeger VFW Post 7676 in Altamont located at 302 W. Cumberland Road. Jeff Hastings, President of “The Flagman’s Mission Continues”, will provide instruction on how to use the post drivers and how to unfurl the flags for display. Please bring work gloves and wear comfortable walking shoes! Anyone able to walk and carry 10 pounds can help. Rain or shine. About twelve clean empty pickup trucks are most welcome and are very useful in taking the flags to the setup locations. We prefer volunteers 12 years and older.
Please support the community and show your respect to the family during this emotional time of closure. All are encouraged to line the flag route and attend the gravesite service on the day of the funeral. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at 11:00 AM at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham with visitation prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Burial with full military honors will be in Moccasin Cemetery in rural Beecher City. Flags will be taken down on Wednesday November 16th. Meet at 1:00 PM at the VFW Post 7676 in Altamont. Jeff will provide instructions on how to prepare the flags to put back in the van. Pickup trucks are again most welcome.
Please bring work gloves! Normally setup and take down can be completed in about two to three hours. A very worthwhile and enjoyable use of your volunteer time! Bring your cameras – the flags provide a lot of photo opportunities that can be shared with the family and others in the community! Show your support for the Tipsword family and the Altamont, Beecher City and Moccasin communities!
Questions, call or text Jeff Hastings at 618-409-0323. For information about “The Flagman’s Mission Continues” please visit http://www.theflagmanmission.
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