SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Over 140 flags lined Galway Park on Veterans Day. It was part of eight-year-old Lorelei Aughenbaugh’s birthday wish to raise money for the Disabled American Veterans charity organization.
Aughenbaugh’s Field of Flags fundraiser raised more than $1,500 for the DAV. For every $250 donated, she received 24 flags.
“It’s just because I like making people happy,” Aughenbaugh said when KELOLAND News first spoke with her.
On Monday, Aughenbaugh and her family set up 144 flags to honor veterans, including her late grandpa.
“As an eight-year-old girl, I mean, that’s just amazing,” South Dakota State Commander Kim Hubers said. “The work that her family has done, the legacy they’ve left for her grandpa is amazing. I mean, he’s living on through this and through Lorelei today, which is just incredible.”
Aughenbaugh placed the flags in even rows, until most of the grassy area of the park was covered in red, white and blue.
“One of them, actually, part of it broke off. So, we used that to make a hole. Then we would just put the flags in the hole it made and tap them down in the ground,” Aughenbaugh said.
Her recognition of others is receiving some recognition of its own. State commander Hubers presented two challenge coins to Aughenbaugh for her dedication to recognizing and honoring veterans. One was from the national DAV office, and the other was from the South Dakota State Commander’s office.
“We generally give out in the military for a very, very exceptional performance. A very good job done,” Hubers said.
Aughenbaugh’s late grandpa also received two challenge coins during his military service.
“The reason I wanted to make sure she had, too, was because Grandpa had two coins, and she thought it was really neat that Grandpa had two. Now she has two,” Hubers said.
“I was excited,” Aughenbaugh said.
Aughenbaugh hopes her Field of Flags will inspire others to support veterans across the country, no matter how young or how old you may be.
