A flag waves from the banks of the Brunswick River. How did it get there?

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (STARNEWS) — An American flag waves to motorists from its home on the edge of the Brunswick River.
On July 4, 2011, Tim Wilson of Leland took his boat into the river and stuck the flag into the ground. Wilson explained his son was in the U.S. military serving in Iraq at that time, and he had a relative who fought in World War II and succumbed to his wounds.
He placed the flag by the river in honor of those serving and those who had served.