LOUISVILLE, Colo. — Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes that ripped through the south over the past couple of months. Many families lost valuables and sentimental items.
A Louisville business is looking to replace one piece that military families may have lost. Mark Karpowich owns the Mudrock Tap and Tavern. During the Marshall Fire, the restaurant turned into a donation center. The Marshall Fire burned more than 6,000 acres and 1,084 homes, becoming Colorado's most destructive wildfire.
Karpowich met a few individuals during that time looking to support people who had lost something extremely sentimental - memorial honor flags given by the military.
"We had realized a lot of people had lost some things that were irreplaceable, things like their loved ones memorial honor flags," Karpowich said. "The military presents [the flag]. After it is draped over a casket, it's folded and given to the family as a thank you."
After the Marshall Fire, Karpowich said he gave out 36 honor flags to families that lost their original to the flames. Now they're looking to do it again, this time for those who may have lost them in Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
"It’s a great honor," he said. "It’s a great thing for people to have at their house to remember their loved ones."
Karpowich said ten arrived in Tampa earlier this week. He's created a GoFundMe to send a few more. He knows he can't really replicate their original flags, but hopes the gesture brings the families a little peace.
"It's a memory it's irreplaceable," he said. "When you see how much it means to somebody, that's kind of what it's all about."
Besides the flags, local businesses in Colorado also sent supplies victims may need. Karpowich said they will work with chapters of the American Legion to find families that may have lost their flag.