Larry "The Flag Man" Eckhardt, who voluntarily lines streets with American flags, was presented with a gas-powered post driver by Rhino Tool Company. Representing the manufacturer was marketing manager, Bob Tellier.

In 2006, Larry Eckhardt set out on a mission to honor fallen soldiers. His plan? Line their funeral procession routes with American flags. He started with 150 flags, which he carried in the back of his pickup. He used a homemade slide hammer to dig flag post holes.

As he continued this altruistic endeavor, his inventory of flags grew. In 2009, the citizens of Kewanee, Ill., presented him with a 12-foot, enclosed trailer at the homecoming for Kewanee National Guardsmen from Afghanistan. At that point, Eckhardt was up to about 530 flagpoles, which he carried in the back of his pickup. Since then, the community of Fairfield, Ill., has presented him with a van. Presently, he can provide up to 3000 flags.

And now installing those flags won't take as long as they used to thanks to the gift by Rhino Tool of a gas-powered post driver.

"We are proud that our product will be used to install displays to honor military and public servants," said Bob Tellier, the company's marketing manager.

Established in 1975 and located in Kewanee, the manufacturer produces air operated post drivers, gas powered post drivers, manual and hydraulic post pullers. The model that they gave to Eckhardt is the GPD-30, designed for t-posts, ground rods, form pins, grape stakes, and fence posts up to 1-7/8-inches in diameter.

Eckhardt, of Little York, Ill., gets help from veterans groups, Boy Scouts, and other volunteers as he lines the streets from the airport to the church, or the church to the cemetery, or both.

He seldom attends the funerals where he installs the flags. He also lines other processions; once placing 1,000 flags along the route President Obama took when entering Atkinson, Ill., in 2011. Obama sent Eckhardt an autographed photo and a thank you for what he does for American soldiers, veterans and their families.

"While planting flags for the President was truly a great honor," said Eckhardt, "the highest honor we feel is when we are allowed to pay tribute to one of our country's heroes."