BELLEVILLE, Ill.—There is a call for help to honor a fallen Marine in Belleville. Volunteers are needed to place flags along the funeral route for Capt. Eleanor “Ellie” LeBeau Cooke.
Cooke, an Althoff Catholic High grad, died in an aircraft crash during a training exercise last month in Australia. Two others died and 20 were injured in the crash.
She will be laid to rest on Saturday and a visitation will be Friday.
The Flagman’s Mission wants to give her a patriotic homecoming. The non-profit group creates a memorial of flags for fallen military members.
The group is asking for help setting up 1,000 flags Thursday at 4 p.m. It also needs help taking down the flags on Sunday at 1 p.m. The meeting location is 200 W. Harrison Street in Belleville.
You don’t have to sign up and instructions and materials will be provided.
The state of Illinois will also honor Capt. Cooke by ordering all U.S. and state flags will be flown at half-staff at state, county and local government buildings.