By Valerie Macon
In the years following the American Civil War, citizens placed flowers on the graves of those killed in battle, a day known as Decoration Day. After World War I, the day came to be observed in honor of those who had died in all U.S. wars, and the name of the holiday changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day. Congress made Memorial Day an official federal holiday in 1971 to be celebrated on the last Monday in May. The day is observed by religious services, parades, and speeches nationwide. Flowers and flags are placed on the graves of veterans in local cemeteries.
A field of flags representing our heroes is an impressive way to honor those who serve. Over the years, it has evolved to honor not only military heroes but civilian heroes. The Exchange Club’s Wake County Field of Honor is an impressive flag display well worth checking out.
The Wake County Field of Honor, hosted by seven local Exchange Clubs, is an awe-inspiring Memorial Day observance in which hundreds of American flags fly in tribute to veterans including those who have served, those currently serving, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Our police, firefighters, EMS, medical professionals, and other heroes are also honored in this patriotic display.
I spoke with NC District Division Directors Angie Stafford (Division 3) and Gene Hackney (Division 4) about the Exchange Club’s Wake County Field of Honor. They provided a wealth of information about the history, meaning and mechanics of this patriotic event.
A Brief History of the Field of Honor
The Healing Field, or Field of Honor, was started by Paul Swenson, an Exchange Club member and owner of Colonial Flag Company. Just before the first anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, Paul learned the number of people who died on that day. He was moved to donate 3,031 American flags in commemoration of those lost lives and to display them in a field in his town of Sandy, Utah. The display proved to be an emotional healing experience for many; and by the following year, several other cities hosted their own Healing Fields/Fields of Honor. Now, nationwide, hundreds of cities and organizations have a Field of Honor.
While initially the display was to commemorate victims of 9/11, it has expanded to honor veterans, law enforcement officers, first responders and medical personnel. In 2003 the National Exchange Club Convention endorsed the Field of Honor. Since then, Exchange Clubs across America host Fields of Honor for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and other occasions. Colonial Flag Company provides American flags for these displays at low cost, and also donates $1 from each flag displayed in a Field of Honor to the Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which is the Exchange Club’s National project.
The Wake County Field of Honor
The Exchange Clubs—whose core values are family, community, and country—sponsor projects in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Programs, and Child Abuse Prevention. Their Americanism program of service promotes pride in our country, appreciation of the freedoms granted to American Citizens, and gratitude to the men and women who serve or have served in the armed forces. Seven Exchange Clubs host the fourth annual Wake County Field of Honor: The Exchange Club of Fuquay-Varina, The Peak City Exchange Club of Apex, The Exchange Club of New Hope Wilders Grove, The Exchange Club of North Raleigh, The Exchange Club of Raleigh, The Exchange Club of Swift Creek Township, and the Exchange Club of West Raleigh.
Volunteers from these seven Exchange Clubs, family, and friends all work together to bring this project to fruition. A surveyor lays out the field with military precision: strings are run to mark rows, and every seven feet they make a hole for a flagpole. Rows are labeled. A tag is affixed to each flagpole to indicate who the flag is dedicated to and their field of service. A ribbon tied on each pole shows their service: yellow–military, blue–police, red–first responders, white–medical professionals. Books are kept to track exactly where an individual’s flag is located.
With 500 flags, each measuring 3’ X 5’, aligned in ruler-straight rows on eight-foot poles, the Wake County Field of Honor makes a striking display. An extremely moving moment comes at sunset when special music is played. At night, the field of flags is lit up. Scout troops camp out at the field to guard the flags through the night. After the event, flags are removed from the field, and each with its tag is made available to be picked up by sponsors as a memento.
Once the expenses of the display are met, this event becomes a fundraiser that supports other Exchange Club programs that make our communities a better place for everyone to live like support of foster families, Veterans Matter, youth scholarships, support of youth robotics teams, donations to food banks, and support for homeless families, to mention a few.
Individuals can sponsor a flag as a tribute to a member of the armed forces, a veteran, police officer, first responder or medical professional for $35, and business sponsorships are also available. Flags may be purchased online at the Exchange website (https://www.healingfield.org/event/raleighnc23/) or by contacting a local Exchange member by email at wakecountyexchange@gmail.com. Check the website for additional events like flag retirement ceremonies and special music at sunset each night.
The Wake County Field of Honor is held Memorial Day weekend at the Exchange Club of West Raleigh Baseball Complex at 830 Barringer Drive, Raleigh. The field remains open 24 hours a day from Friday, May 26, at 10 a.m. with the posting of the flags on the field (volunteers are welcome to help post flags), through Monday, May 29, 1 p.m. for the Memorial Day ceremony, after which the field will be immediately disassembled.
It is fitting to recognize our heroes—those whose values are family, community and country, those who place service above self, those honored in the Wake County Field of Honor display. All are invited to visit and to walk among the posted flags. There is no charge for this event.
