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Giant flag display to honor veterans, first responders in Merced

Sun-Star staff reports
Julia Tovar, 14, at left, and Alex Tovar, 7, both of Atwater, remove flags that were placed to honor their dad and other family members in the armed services during the Field of Honor closing ceremony at Merced College on Veterans Day last year.
Julia Tovar, 14, at left, and Alex Tovar, 7, both of Atwater, remove flags that were placed to honor their dad and other family members in the armed services during the Field of Honor closing ceremony at Merced College on Veterans Day last year. Christopher Winterfeldt Merced Sun-Star file

The organizers of Merced Field of Honor are looking for residents who want to honor veterans or first responders with a huge American flag display next week.

Now in its second year, Field of Honor is planned for display from Sunday through Nov. 11 on the south lawn of Merced College, 3600 M St. The event is co-sponsored by the Merced Sunrise Rotary Club and Merced College.

Flags may be purchased for $35. Those who purchased flags last year may display the same flag for $10. Ordering information can be found at www.mercedfieldofhonor.org. Organizers have asked residents to order their flags as soon as possible because the flags sold out last year.

Members of the community who want to re-fly a flag used in last year’s Field of Honor may bring the flag to the lawn from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday or beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The Field of Honor is meant to recognize veterans, active-duty military and first responders. Last year, 1,000 flags were raised and many people hung pictures or other memorabilia from their loved ones on the flagpoles.

The display this year will include an array of historic flags that represent the development of Old Glory through the years, according to a news release. The lawn will fly 1,776 flags for the opening ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Merced College Theater.

Organizers said the event receives support from individual and community sponsors. Last year’s Field of Honor also benefited special projects such as the Central Valley Honor Flight, which takes veterans to Washington, D.C. This week, about 70 veterans left on a plane from Castle Airport to see war memorials in the nation’s capital.

The closing ceremony for the display is scheduled on the Merced College lawn at 10 a.m. Nov. 11, when patriotic music and a flyover formation are planned.

The website is hosted by Merced Sunrise Rotary and allows for purchases via PayPal or credit card, as well as by check. More information is available at the website.

Organizers are also looking for volunteers. For information on volunteering, call Charlene Armstrong at (209) 761-4549.

This story was originally published October 28, 2014 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Giant flag display to honor veterans, first responders in Merced."

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