MONROE — James Baltrip, a 103-year-old Army veteran from World War II, has a new flagpole and an American flag flying from it thanks to members of the ritual team and honor guard at Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Five members of the team installed the 16-foot-tall flagpole and presented the flag to Baltrip at his home Jan. 31.
“It was so emotional,” said John Durbin Sr., a member of the team. “He served in the infantry and was in D-Day at Normandy. He took his old pole down and we put up a new one. It was an honor to do that.”
Durbin said other members of the team included Bob Cebina, George Boerboom, Michael Beck and George O’Dell. They saluted Baltrip in his living room and he saluted them in return. He also showed a map of where he served and traveled in Europe during the war.
“It’s unusual to see a World War veteran any more. Sadly, most of them are gone,” Durbin said.
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The full team has installed flagpoles and presented flags to other veterans over the years and also at schools and nursing homes in the area. The team also has performed hundreds of military committal rites at funerals of veterans.