Field of Honor

flag-filled event to honor fallen soldiers

Thom Fountain |

You don’t have to wait until Veteran’s Day or next year’s Memorial Day to honor the troops who have given their lives for our country. During the week of Sept. 8-16, a Field Of Honor will be set up at the Chippewa Valley Technical College, which will consist of a striking visual of over 1,500 American and Wisconsin flags lined perfectly on a large field representing those we’ve lost. The field will be open 24 hours a day for reflection, but various other events will be held throughout the week. Gov. Scott Walker will attend the opening ceremony on Sept. 8, which also will feature a variety of speakers and music. Throughout the week, certain days will be designated to honor specific groups, such as the First Responder day on Sept. 11 and Vietnam Veterans Day on Sept. 13. On Sunday, Sept. 9 there will be special programming for children, including opportunities to learn about the U.S. flag, hot air balloon rides, tours of military equipment and – as a nice takeaway – free ice cream and a free flag. There will also be a closing ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 16. Anyone can sponsor one of the flags for $30, or donate what they’d like to the Field Of Honor project.