The Starke County Commissioners considered a request from Matthew J. Foster to fly an American Flag at the Starke County Courthouse at the war memorial on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, and retire that flag the next day to give to a Starke County soldier.
Foster plans to give it to E7 Sergeant First Class Ronald James Lardino II. Sergeant Lardino is a Knox native and has spent the past 17.5 years in the U.S. Army. His service includes two combat tours in Iraq and one tour in Kuwait. He is currently stationed in Georgia.
Sergeant Lardino collects flags and the flag flown in Starke County will be added to his extensive collection. He is anticipated to return to the Knox area during the holiday season so the flag can be given to him then.
Foster also has a POW-MIA flag signed by Ret. Lt. Col. Donald E. “Digger” O’Dell of the U.S. Air Force for Sergeant Lardino. Foster visited with O’Dell in Detroit recently and heard his story. O’Dell was shot down in his 17th air mission on Oct. 17, 1967, in North Vietnam. He was captured and was held as a Prisoner of War for 5.5 years.
Additionally, Foster will also give him a signed Knox VFW Post #748 flag.
The Starke County Commissioners unanimously approved the request. Foster will be responsible for raising and lowering the flag on Veteran’s Day.
