THIS IS OUR DOWNTOWN. THERE ARE ROWS OF OLD BUSINESSES ON 2 SIDES OF THE SQUARE.

FLAGS PLACED ALONG THE STREETS OF OAKLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN OUR TOWN LOST A SOLDIER IN THE WAR. LARRY ECKHARDT, FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS, PLACED ALL THE FLAGS. HE WILL TRAVEL FAR TO HONOR ILLINOIS FALLEN SOLDIERS. OUR PAPER PRINTED A STORY ABOUT HIM AFTER JARED'S FUNERAL AND IT ALSO RAN A POEM I HAD WRITTEN. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PAPER COMING OUT, HE CALLED ME AND ASKED IF HE COULD USE MY POEM TO GIVE TO CHILDREN WHO HAS LOST A PARENT IN THE WAR. I SAID SURE. I WAS HONORED THAT HE WOULD ASK ME.
SO- HE MADE SOME PLAQUES UP TO GIVE TO THE CHILDREN. HE SENT ME ONE AND I GOT IT YESTERDAY. I THINK THEY ARE COOL. SO NOW EVERY TIME WE LOSE A SOLDIER, HE WILL DISPLAY HIS FLAGS IN HONOR OF THE FALLEN SOLDIER AND LEAVE A PLAQUE FOR EACH CHILD OF THE FALLEN SOLDIER.

HE DESIGNED THIS SO A PHOTO OF THE CHILD'S PARENT CAN BE PLACED IN BESIDE MY POEM.

THE LETTER HE ADDED IN THE PACKAGE.