Though there was nothing else left, Mike House made sure the American flag flew once again over the Greensburg, Kansas, yard of his grandfather, Claude Hopkins. Photo submitted by Deb House

Theirs was a close knit family, and their community was rural, quite like Huron County. This meant those long car rides "back home" were necessities, especially for holidays.

In fact the family was all together this past Christmas, including Mike House's grandfather and his three kids' great-grandfather.

Now, those memories, captured in photographs and in their minds' eye are even more precious.

The worst tornado to hit the United States hit their hometown of Greensburg, Kansas. Among those lives it took was this man held so dear, Claude Hopkins, 79.

Hopkins' family was among those who settled Greensburg some 125 years ago. At his funeral were the four wagon wheels that once stood in his yard. They were from one of the wagons that brought his ancestors to homestead this piece of land in Kansas.

According to Mrs. House, the minister commented that Hopkins' family had settled the town and he, himself, "went out on the last brick."

The family could find very little to rescue of Mr. Hopkins' belongings.

They did, however, manage to find and set upright his flagpole. He was a patriotic man and having the stars and stripes flying in his yard was very important to him. So, Mike House made sure, though nothing else existed on that lot, his grandfather's flag flew in protection over this piece of American soil.

As they toured their hometown, the couple and their children could not believe the devastation. Mrs. House said it was difficult getting her bearings because there were no street signs, no buildings, no trees--nothing to give a sense of familiarity.

"It's indescribable. It's unbelievable," said Mrs. House of what met their eyes as they drove into town past where their high school once stood and then onto the now completely flattened business district and neighborhoods.

Her brother's home was spared because he lives outside of town and away from the tornado's one and one-half mile wide reach.

He did lose his truck.

When the 20 minute "take cover immediately" warning came, he sought shelter in a basement just as many did. And like so many others, when the storm passed, he found himself buried by rubble, including vehicles. He dug his way out.

Mrs. House said at Mr. Hopkins' funeral, many attending were in poor shape, some with broken limbs, badly bruised, and obvious cuts. Though some were not wounded on the outside, all were injured inside as the life they knew was over.

By the end of the week during the House's return to Greensburg, they had already cleared the debris and were "burning down the town."

Many signs proclaiming such expressions as "Future home of..." or "We'll be back!" gave them hope that the next visit would be to an even better hometown.

Until then, they have their memories, and the comfort that the American flag flies over their grandfather's yard, just as it always did.