A Texas teen painstakingly mowed an American flag into the front lawn of his family home, inspired partly by Independence Day but also by his friend who passed away at the end of June.

Cameron James, 17, said that his father had encouraged him to try the design last year, but after his friend, 21-year-old Army Pfc. Kevin Christian, died while deployed at the Arizona-Mexico border, James knew the flag would be the perfect tribute.

James said that Pfc. Christian had been a friend and a role model, and he wanted to give him a tribute that would draw attention. He said, "I wanted to make sure he was missed by even the people who didn't know him."