Flag raised by one of oldest Boyle County veterans
Published 3:04 pm Thursday, August 12, 2021
Eugene Pflughaupt, left, smiles for a picture. Fellow veterans prepare the flag to be raised. - Photo by Olivia Mohr
Eugene Pflughaupt raises the U.S. flag on the new flagpole located in the Arby’s parking lot on Hustonville Road. He wears a “World War II veteran” hat. - Photo by Olivia Mohr
A group of veterans gathered for the flag raising. John Bowling, second from left, put the event together. Eugene Pflughaupt is pictured center. - Photo by Olivia Mohr
The U.S. flag flaps in the breeze and shines in the sun on its new flagpole. - Photo by Olivia Mohr
On the humid morning Wednesday, one of Boyle County’s oldest veterans, Eugene Pflughaupt, 95, raised a large U.S. flag on a new flagpole.
The 30-foot flagpole is located in the Arby’s parking lot on Hustonville Road. John W.D. Bowling, a former Danville mayor who owns the franchise location with his son and is a veteran himself, said the pole was installed last Friday by the Oates Flag Company based in Louisville.
Pflughaupt was drafted into the military at age 18 in 1944, during World War II, and served in the U.S. Army Infantry Branch for two years.
“I was overseas in combat for five months,” he said.
To honor veterans and celebrate Pflughaupt and the flag, eight other veterans were present: Bowling, Charlie Parks, Bill Shaver, Eddie Montgomery, Richard Ketelhohn, Charles Meshako, King Pruitt and Steve Anderson. Bowling said all of them served in the Army, except for Parks, who was a Marine.
Bowling said the Arby’s sign will light up the flag at night with its LED light.
“Somebody was teasing me that the airplanes could see it from the sky,” he said.
He met Pflughaupt through a veterans’ coffee club and has known him for around 10 to 12 years. As Pflughaupt approaches 96 years old, Bowling said he’s amazed at how good of shape he’s in still. For example, he still drives his own car, and Bowling said he’s a great person.
“He’s just a gentleman,” Bowling said. “How can I say it? He’s just a gentleman, wonderful guy.”
