(Seguin) — A patriotic sea of red, white and blue returns to Seguin this Fourth of July holiday. However, the deadline to ensure your American flag is among the hundreds to be planted for this year’s Field of Honor opening ceremony is fast approaching. That’s according to Committee Chairwoman Connie Ramirez. Ramirez says the patriotic field will be held next door to Faith Lutheran Church along State Highway 123 Bypass. She says the flags will be on display beginning this Saturday and running through July 5. She says this year, the committee has expanded the criteria for honoring individuals with flags. She says it goes beyond just the military and first responders.
“This is a fundraising event. Our beneficiary is the SS American Memorial here in Seguin so all of our money that we raise stays local to help veterans and first responders, anybody that visit the Lazy U Ranch here in Seguin. The way it works is you can sponsor a flag for $30 in honor of or in memory of a military member who is active duty, a veteran, a first responder. This year, we opened it up as well to
teachers, anybody in the education field, the essential workers, healthcare workers since they carried us through this pandemic last year, we feel that they are worthy to be honored in that field as well and so anybody that fits in those categories can get a flag sponsored in their name,” said Ramirez.
It was 2019, when the committee first hosted the event in Seguin. Ramirez says before the Field of Honor, the Colonial Flag Foundation hosted what was known across the country as the Healing Field.
“Years ago when 911 happened, the founder of this Colonial Flag Foundation that sponsors this event realized that the first positive thing that came out of all the rubble was the American flag so that is where it started back then and he started setting up each flag as a healing field for those who had lost their lives during that time. So over the years, it developed from Healing Field to Fields of Honor and they decided that in order to raise money for good causes — our cause, like I said this year is the S.S. American Memorial but that is how the fundraising works and we worked all year trying to raise money to purchase all the flags and to buy poles everything, all the kits that we need to place the field to make it happen and so now, the flag sponsorship is where our proceeds come in that we will give directly to the S.S. American Memorial and Faith Lutheran Church has been generous enough to host this event for us,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez says for $30, anyone can sponsor a flag to be flown in the field located at 1326 E. Cedar St. She says the flag, complete with its own 7 foot flag pole, will then go home with individuals and
families after the closing ceremonies.
“Last year, we had over 1,000 flags and we had over 700 that had actually been sponsored. This year, we didn’t know how the community was going to be because of the COVID and the economy, a lot of people had lost their jobs and so, we ended up just ordering 800 flags. So, that’s what we are going to fly this year is only 800 flags but as of right now, we have left 150 that have actually been sponsored so we really are trying to get that push to get as many as possible so we can have a good donation to give,” said Ramirez.
The group says if needed, flags purchased by those from out-of-town, can also have them shipped to them for $36. Each flag will be tagged with the name of your designated “hero” along with their field of service.
Ramirez says the group is really asking that the community get their flag today. She says every flag flown comes with its own unique and special story.
“It is a great honor to see your name out there on the field and people can walk by and kind of see what you do — oh, you are an educator, oh, you are a truck driver, or you served in the Korea War — different things and this year, we are trying to bring these flags to life as well. So, we would really love the community to come out at about 6:30 every evening as the flags are flying and share your story, share your story about your loved one, why you dedicated that flag. There have been some amazing stories that we have heard this last time we had the event and we really want to bring the community together in that way so you can kind of see what this community is made out of — all the heroes that we have locally that you normally don’t know about,” said Ramirez.
Opening ceremonies for this year’s Field of Honor is set for 10 a.m. Saturday in Seguin High School’s Goldie Harris Gym. A blessing of the flags will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. On Sunday, July 4, free hots and chips will be provided at 6 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus #16748. Closing ceremonies and flag pick up will follow at 10 a.m. Monday, July 5. TAPS will also be played at the site each day at 7
p.m. by local musician Roxanne Heckmann.
To purchase a flag, you can go online at healingfield.org/event/seguintx21 or you can stop by the American Legion Hall today after 5 p.m. Folks may also contact Ramirez at 830-243-2872.