Opening ceremonies set for Saturday morning
(Seguin) — A patriotic sea of red, white, and blue returns to Seguin this weekend marking what has become one of newest Fourth of July traditions in the last three years.
The tradition known as Field of Honor will return to the grassy area next door to Faith Lutheran Church along State Highway 123 Bypass. The event is essentially the purchasing and planting of close to 1,000 7 and a half foot tall American Flags along the highway. This year’s event will run from July 2-9.
Committee Chairwoman Connie Ramirez says what initially started off as a onetime event has now become an annual effort to not only honor our heroes but support a non-profit organization in the process.
“I think for us as a committee, it’s something that we hold dear to our hearts, so we enjoy doing that although it is a lot of work. We like raising the money for our veterans and the different veteran organizations that have been our beneficiaries but now I think it’s become a little more than that and we just love to see the community come out. They are just amazed when they see the fields just the feeling that we get when people come up and say this is amazing, it’s beautiful. They have tears in their eyes, and we’ve had so many different people that have come in to help over the years and have met so many different people and not only from the different veteran organizations but also from Faith Lutheran Church, their congregation. They are amazing in the way they help us, and they are always out there, and I feel it’s just become a community event and once it’s down, people are always asking us are you all going to do this again next year. Over the years, I think we’ve only heard one person make a comment that we should not have it every year but as long as we can, I feel that we will,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez says before the Field of Honor, the Colonial Flag Foundation hosted what was known across the country as the Healing Field. She says the event followed the tragedy of 911 when the Colonial Flag Foundation first sponsored the event to illustrate that the first positive thing that came out of all the rubble was the American flag. Over the years, the symbolic Healing Field turned into Fields of Honor.
Ramirez says purchasing a flag or donating one in honor of or in memory of your hero is simple.
“We have to purchase these flag kits and, in these kits, we get a 3×5 American flag which is made in the USA. You get a 7 and a half foot pole and a 3 foot rebar and these flags are staked in a field in perfect formation or as close as we can get them and we follow all of the flag protocol with that so these flags can be sponsored or dedicated to a military person that is active, a veteran, a first responder, anyone that you consider to be your hero or a loved one. The flags are $30 to purchase, and we tag that flag with the name of your loved one. It flies in the field for the weeklong event. Once the event is lover, the flag, the pole, the rebar is yours to take home and display. All the money raised goes to a non-profit organization that stays local. This year, it is the American Legion Post 245 that will be the beneficiary,” said Ramirez.
Flags can be purchased today or during the opening ceremony set for 10 a.m. Saturday at 1326 E. Cedar St. Seguin City Councilman Chris Aviles and former co-chair of Field of Honor has arranged a special patriotic helicopter flyover at this year’s opening ceremony. Taps will also be played each day at 7 p.m. Closing ceremonies for flag pickup is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9. Those wishing to purchase flags can call Ramirez at 830-243-2872. A link to order online can also be found on the Seguin Tx Field of Honor Facebook page.