An 8-by-12-foot American flag flying 88 feet above a crane truck around Wadena flies in honor of one soldier from Wadena serving in Afghanistan, and all soldiers serving for their country.
Luke Waln, son of Ed and Joy Waln of Wadena, has been in southern Afghanistan since February and the Walns wanted to fly a flag during the year he is deployed. Luke Waln, 30, is a captain in the 10th Mountain Division.
Ed Waln served in Vietnam and another son, T.J., served in Desert Storm. While T.J. Waln was overseas, Ed and Joy had a flag on the side of the house for a year. They wanted to display a flag while Luke was overseas as well.
"I just feel like the troops are there and the city and community should be behind them," Ed Waln said.
Since the Walns began displaying the flag atop a crane truck, it has been flying all around town. Some places it has been include the Wadena Inn and Grill, Minnesota Valley Irrigation, Fair Oaks Lodge, near the Fleet Supply, at a corner on Highways 10 and 71 and most recently near the Elks Lodge on Highway 71.
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"We've had requests from people to park the truck at their place," Joy Waln said.
It was displayed at the New York Mills motorcycle rally and has been requested to fly at the Wadena Veteran of Foreign Wars club for the Family Readiness Group's motorcycle rally in August.
Joy Waln said her family also has received so much support in the form of letters and phone calls. She has been
forwarding all the letters to her son in Afghanistan.
"The phone calls and thank yous from people and businesses have been great," Joy Waln said.
The Walns even received a phone call from a California woman who was traveling through town and saw the flag. She got the phone number off the side of the crane truck so she could express her support to the Walns.
Ed and Joy Waln said they want people to remember that men and women are overseas, risking their lives, and thought displaying a flag was one way to serve as a reminder.
"We seem to forget too quickly that our guys are there," Joy Waln said. "Let's be behind them."
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