Disabled veteran holds up flagpole for 9 hours

WILBRAHAM, Mass. — A disabled veteran showed a touching display of patriotism outside Wingate at Wilbraham, an assisted living facility.

Army specialist Darren Swallow held up a fallen flag for hours on Memorial Day, according to WWLP.

"My girlfriend told me yesterday the flagpole behind us was taken down during a storm or from a plow truck," Swallow said. "So I thought I’d come down and honor our veterans, and let them know they have not been forgotten."

>> Read more trending stories

Swallow, who arrived at 3:30 a.m, told WWLP he planed to stay until 1 p.m. Monday.

The gesture honored veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Susan Huart, an employee at Wingate at Wilbraham whose two children and son-in-law are in the service, told WWLP "He’s celebrating the veterans because we didn’t have a flagpole, and he came to celebrate the veterans everywhere."

Swallow served multiple tours in Iraq, which left him disabled.

After holding the flag, Swallow went from room to room shaking the hands of veterans in the facility.

Cox Media Group