Top of the Morning, April 18, 2024
Apr. 18—A repatriation service for Charles Darling Brown, killed at age 22 during the attack on Pearl Harbor, will take place Saturday morning at Arcola Township Cemetery.
To help honor him, organizers at The Flagman's Mission are in need of 200 volunteers to plant 600 American flags on 10-foot poles along the funeral procession's route. "If you can carry 5 pounds and walk, we can use you," Flagman's Mission President/CEO Jeff Hastings said.
If available, meet at 4 p.m. Friday at Arcola Masonic Community Center at 121 S. Locust St. Setup will take 2-3 hours. Volunteers also are needed to take down the flags at 1 p.m. Sunday. Reach out to Hastings at 618-409-0323 for more information.
Johnie Hall of Sadorus will be there. Hall and family members have assisted at services like these for years "as a way to pay back," he said. "Each one makes me happy-sad. It's the best-worst thing I can do for the deceased."
We'll share the story of Brown, a Navy electrician's mate who died aboard the USS West Virginia, and his 83-year journey back to Douglas County to be buried next to loved ones.
