Columbia, SC (WLTX) - — Two siblings finally received an American Flag for their father's death Saturday morning, after almost 60 years.
Barbera Ringer and her brother Kenny were small children when their parents Kenneth and Dorothy Lee were killed in a plane crash in 1960.
Their father, Kenneth, had served in the Korean war and was also a member of the Columbia Police Department before his death.
“As we got older, we didn’t know where his flag was," said Ringer. "Everybody that serves in the military gets a flag, so we started asking around and nobody knew where his flag was, so I wrote a letter to Fort Jackson and they said they would give us one.”
On Saturday, 58 years after their parents death, the two siblings were finally presented with their father's flag.
“Today is a very special day,: said Kenny Lee. "It ranks along there with your first born and your marriage as far as the greatest things in your life. It ranks up there with that.”
Although it is military protocol for the flag to go to the oldest child, Ringer decided to give the flag to her younger brother Kenny.
“We share that love for our father, and we miss both of our parents very much," said Ringer. To me, it doesn't matter who has possession of the flag. It belongs to both of us, so it was okay for him to have it.”
The family says the flag is a treasured item and feel their parents would have appreciated it.
“I just hope that if he is watching over us today, that he is proud to see that his two children have done this and we have not forgotten about them.” Ringer said.
The siblings were surrounded by their children and close friends at the ceremony. They plan to pass down the flag to Kenny Lee's daughter, who is also a veteran.