Cape neighbors remember "Man with the flag"
A Cape Coral army veteran known for his patriotic passion for the American flag recently passed away. Family members laid Dan Taylor to rest yesterday. Now his neighbors are making sure those who never met him will learn his story.
By
Cristin Severance
Story Created:
Aug 28, 2008 at 6:40 PM EST
Story Updated:
Aug 29, 2008 at 2:15 PM EST
CAPE CORAL, Fla - Almost everybody knew Dan Taylor and everybody knew his flag.
"Everybody knew Dan, the mailman was just here and he knew Dan," says neighbor Al Schultz.
"He carried a small American flag everyday he ran," says his step-son Michael Cartwright.
"He waved at everyone who went by and people smiled at him and honked at him," says his granddaughter Sarah Cartwright.
Sometimes people stopped him on the street, once it was a woman in a Cadillac.
"She says, you know, you made my day and I want to give you something as a reward and she gave him a bottle of champagne," says his wife Katherine.
Although it was a nice gesture, he didn't carry his American pride on his sleeve for presents.
"Dan was a patriot and he was an army veteran," says Michael.
"He retired as a Sargent E8. I don't know what that means but it is high up in the Sargent ranks," says his wife.
Taylor began jogging with his flag in 1979 as a way to support 52 hostages in Iran. When the men were freed he kept running and later the running became walks with his wife. Taylor passed away Saturday and was laid to rest Wednesday. Now his neighbors on Sunset Court are remembering the man with the flag by lining their street with 60 of them.
The funeral procession drove down the street one last time and here were all the flags celebrating Dan," says Schultz.
"It was really special to see how much he touched the community here," says Sarah.
Katherine Taylor hopes if someone see the flags and didn't know Dans story they'll ask.
"I hope they say a good man passed away," she says.
Friday, Aug 29 at 9:45 AM Paul wrote ...
Good-Bye fellow Vet... more people should be like you!!
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