Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Firefighters folded an American flag outside a fire-damaged Libertyville home Tuesday at the scene of a house fire in the 500 block of Fairhill Road.
Grayslake firefighter/paramedics Mike Higgins, Ian Mandigo and Ryan Schaefer removed the flag from the front of the home after Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Steingart told the men to take down the flag because it was in the way.
“Out of respect for the flag, we started to fold it,” Higgins said. “We had it nice and tight … we wanted to give it back to the homeowner that way.”
Jeff Rudolph posted the photo of the firefighters folding the flag on Facebook.
“They could have left it hanging and it probably would have gotten torn down by crews walking in and out or they could have removed it and just balled it up and set it somewhere, but they knew the respect the flag deserved. They went the extra step … in a day and age when many disrespect our flag, the members of our nation’s fire service always respect and honor what that flag means.”
thanks Dan
