MOHALL, N.D. (KXNET) — If you see an American flag or an eagle statue in the town of Mohall, it was probably put there by Thomas Gehringer Senior.He is a Vietnam veteran healing his own wounds by honoring others who have served, and those are serving today. After a year in Germany, at the young age of 19 in 1970, Thomas Gehringer Sr. was deployed to Vietnam where he would be at the front of the battle line for 410 days "It was very hot over there. Lots of stuff flying around, and it never gets erased from my mind," explained Gehringer. After he got back to North Dakota, he met the love of his life, Judy and they would have 3 babies together, Thomas Junior, Julie, and Jessica. Gehringer started a business, called Propane Services in Mohall. Over the years he would begin to paint the town in red, white and blue. "One of the first things I noticed on Main Street was on the corner of the courthouse, there's a monument with dog tags," explained Katie Dow, family friend and veteran. "It's not like he went to the court and asked for records of the deceased. Tom took the time, and I think Judy was sometimes maybe with him, his wife. But Tom would get in the vehicle and drive around, and you know what? He would get out of his vehicle and walk those cemeteries," said Dow. After walking the cemeteries across the county, Gehringer noted the names of several hundred soldiers, had a dog tag made for each one, and placed them all into one memorial.Gehringer also works with The Flagpole Guy of North Dakota to put up flag poles and other monuments across Renville County. Gehringer is the Commander of Legion Post 52, and with the funds from the legion, Vets gaming, and other donations, he has been able to erect multiple flag poles and statues. "I went down to Kellog, Minnesota, to pick up three different loads of statues for different cemeteries around and you can't believe the people passing you on the interstate, they look over and salute you and wave and take pictures and they had all these statues strapped on the trailer, right? That was pretty cool," said Gehringer. The most recent memorial was completed in Antler after two years in the making. While Gehringer does a lot of the work by himself, he also gets a lot of help from his daughter, Jessica. She helps him with emailing and searching online for the right statue for each cemetery and location. That's something that Jessica said she will forever cherish. "I enjoy it. I love being able to help him. He's so passionate about all of it and it's something that he's planting a seed for all of us. All of our generations to come. They'll see these flags and monuments and whether they think of Tom Gehringer, we will, my kids will, my grandkids will. We will always know in our hearts who planted this," said Jessica Fitzsimmons, Gehringer's daughter. Though Gehringer is able to find some comfort in honoring our veterans and deployed soldiers, he continues to struggle with PTSD. However, with the help of his daughter and family friend, Katie Dow, who's also a veteran, Gehringer was finally able to get the help he deserved."I mean as you know, he has always had a hard time talking and not being able to share his story with people and he's been one to never accept the VA benefits. So, me getting that process going and going to a VA clinic to talk with a physician got him to open up. He was like hey doc I cry all of the time, what can I do?" said Fitzsimmons. "The VA is right there, and they have done a great initiatives with working with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. I think we're on the right track and now I feel like we have a duty to find those veterans and ask those veterans "Do you need help?" said Dow. "Jessica took me down there to the vet center, but there's some guys there getting twenty-five hundred to three thousand bucks a month, so maybe it doesn't sound so bad," said Gehringer with a giggle. Gehringer is also somewhat of a celebrity around town being honored as Scheels Hometown Hero, featured in local magazines, and now he's today's veteran's voice. Those who know Gehringer, say they are proud. "He's very passionate and caring and he would do anything for anybody. he would bend over backwards for you if you asked him to. He has heart of gold. And he's just an amazing person," said his daughter Jessica. "He has the most incredible heart. Giving. Selfless. He's never thinking of himself. He's always thinking of someone else. People like him that still care and believe in honoring our brothers and sisters that aren't with us anymore. And that despite everything going through the things he has, seeing the things he's seen and not treated the best when he came back. The fact that he still supports and still believes in it. And that says a lot about his patriotism. He's just so incredible," said Dow with tears in her eyes. "This is the best place on the Earth to live," said Gehringer. For the past few years, Gehringer has been hosting a Veteran's Day Memorial at the Mohall Lansford Sherwood High School. At 11 a.m. on November 11th, the Veteran's Day ceremony will begin by honoring one of the last known local Korean War Veterans, followed by a special speaker.The Minot AFB Honor Guard will be presenting colors, and veteran Katie Dow will Emcee. Gehringer's granddaughter, Raegan, will be singing the National Anthem and another local boy will be playing TAPS on the trumpet.Last year, local veterans were given handmade quilts of honor. So, if you're looking for a way to learn more about patriotism and the sacrifice our veterans made for us to live free, you can head to MLS High School on November 11th at 11 in the morning.