Last month, Hans Rea moved into an apartment alongside the Whitewater River. What he didn’t know was that a month later, he would find himself right at the center of what is now a disaster area in Connersville, Ind.

Hans was born abroad in 1959 to a father serving in the U.S. Army in Schweinfurt, Germany. His father and mother, Pvt. Daniel Rea and Hannelore Rea, later brought the family back to the U.S., where Hans and his “younger-by-an-hour” twin brother, Manford, grew up in a rural unincorporated community called Bentonville, Indiana. While Manford now lives in Ohio, Hans decided to stay close. Hans resides in Connersville and has called this small city his home since 1999, less than 20 miles from his hometown.

Just a few weeks ago, Connersville, known for its rich history, natural scenery and small-town charm, had been left in absolute devastation. The city experienced historic flash flooding, with the Whitewater River cresting at nearly 22 feet, causing widespread destruction to businesses, infrastructure and homes like Hans’.

Hans had been living in his apartment for only a month when the threat came. The maintenance manager went door to door, telling residents a flood was coming: "Just leave!"

With little warning, Hans didn’t have much time to prepare. He called his cousins, and he headed to stay with them after he grabbed what he could: some clothes, his toothbrush and a few irreplaceable things. Left behind was everything else, including an American flag in a wooden case that sat in his apartment.

This flag wasn’t just any flag, it had been folded by soldiers and presented to Hans during the eulogy at his father’s funeral over twenty years ago. His father passed shortly after his mother and receiving that flag was one of his final memories of his last-living parent.

After the flooding occurred, Hans returned to his apartment. Almost all his belongings had been destroyed, including the flag case. But, with help from family and friends, he was able to recover the flag. He washed it and brought it with him to the American Red Cross shelter that had opened at the Reid Med Ctr.

“It’s not the flag itself; it was the memory,” Hans said. Hans touches on a universal experience that so many go through when they return to their homes to find what’s left: grief, relief or both.

Although Hans lost almost everything, he wanted to honor the recovery of one of his most sentimental keepsakes. So, with help from Christopher Torso from the Fayette County Honor Guard and Red Cross Volunteer Jeremy Huffaker, they joined Hans at the shelter for a formal military flag folding ceremony to once again honor his father, Pvt. Daniel Rea (d. June 11, 2004), and what his service meant to his family. A small gesture that touches one's heart and memory.

If you or someone you know was affected by severe weather and needs assistance, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Written by Aileen Blomdal & Jeremy Huffaker.