{"id":3119,"date":"2023-09-24T17:45:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T17:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usapress.info\/?p=3119"},"modified":"2023-09-24T17:45:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T17:45:14","slug":"man-finds-5-flag-at-flea-market-with-writing-on-stripes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usapress.info\/?p=3119","title":{"rendered":"Man Finds $5 Flag At Flea Market With Writing On Stripes"},"content":{"rendered":"

You never know what you\u2019ll find rummaging around a flea market. Typically a person might be excited about a smoking deal or a unique treasure \u2013 but what a couple from Texas discovered was actually priceless.<\/p>\n

Walter Brown was shopping at a flea market in Hemphill when a special item caught his eye. It was an American flag covered with writing.
\nHe immediately called over his wife, Lanie, to look at it closer with him. She too was blown away by the flea market find.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT<\/p>\n

After the Browns read through the heartfelt messages on the flag \u2013 they knew it was important to purchase it, whatever the cost. Lanie told TODAY.com:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they asked us for $100 we would have given them a $100 bill. It was priceless to us because we knew it meant something.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were informed by the seller that the flag cost $5. So the Browns bought it without hesitation.
\nOnce home, the couple showed the flag to their son, who\u2019s a Marine. He identified that what they purchased was a fallen Marine\u2019s tribute flag. It had touching messages like:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll always remember the sacrifice you made. God bless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Marine wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will be missed by all, but never forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT<\/p>\n

All of the two dozen messages were for Lance Cpl. Fred Maciel, who lost his life in a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq in 2005.<\/p>\n

The Browns knew the tribute flag should be home with Maciel\u2019s family.
\nWith the help of their children, they managed to track down the fallen Marine\u2019s mother, Patsy Maciel. But instead of just sending it to her through the mail, they felt it was important that her son\u2019s flag be hand-delivered.<\/p>\n

Walter told KHOU 11:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot deeper than just putting it in a mailbox.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patsy met the Browns at her son\u2019s gravesite to receive the flag. Others showed up as well, all to honor the late Lance Cpl. Fred Maciel.
\nYears after her son\u2019s passing, Patsy finally got to see the flag that his fellow Marines had covered with messages. According to CBS News, the grieving mom didn\u2019t know it existed until hearing from the couple. She did, however, receive an official flag for his casket nearly a decade before.<\/p>\n

Another message on the tribute flag beautifully read:<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for being who you were \u2026 Rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT<\/p>\n

She felt the flag was a message from her son, saying she needed to heal.
\nPatsy told TODAY.com:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this happened any earlier, there\u2019s no way I would have been able to go out there and receive it because I was an absolute basket case. Now, my heart is at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patsy also thought her son played a part in the couple finding the flag.
\nLanie agreed, since them even being at the flea market was \u201ca miracle.\u201d Turns out, Walter isn\u2019t much of a shopper, and normally dislikes places like it. The only reason they went that particular day was because he wanted to look for a holster.<\/p>\n