Family honors Pete Pitzen as ‘Flagman of Belleville’

Pete Pitzen of Belleville, who regularly offers free American flags to the community, was honored by his family on Oct. 6 at a surprise party at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Van Buren Township. His children put on the surprise pizza party and plaque presentation. Present were daughter Barb Cassidy and sons Michael, Andy, Pete, and Matt. Son Mark was unable to be present.
Son Matt started reading a prepared tribute to his father and then choked up and couldn’t continue. He passed the paper over to Andy to continue and Andy passed the paper over to Pitzen to read at his leisure.
Pitzen was declared the “Flagman of Belleville” and praised for his dedication to the American flag, his unwavering patriotism, and his efforts to make sure everyone has a flag through his selfless action.
They also pointed out that his wife Gayle helps prepare the recycled flags by washing them and hanging them out to dry. Pitzen, a veteran, places the cleaned flags that had already flown over veterans’ graves on new wooden rods donated by Mans Lumber. Then he offers them to the public without charge.