Field Of Honor The Work Of Many Hands

Hundred of American flags, each dedicated to a veteran or active military service member, fly in the Field of Honor in front of Huntington Town Hall.

By Peter Sloggatt
psloggatt@longislandergroup.com

While it may seem like the flags that fly in front of Town Hall in Huntington spring up overnight, that’s not the case. The Field of Honor, a display of hundreds of American flags dedicated to veterans, is the work of the Huntington Kiwanis Club which assembles a small army of volunteers to get the display up.

Originally conceived as a Veterans Day fundraiser by the Kiwanis, the Field of Honor has become a tradition in town, expanding its presence to span from Sept. 11 through National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7. Kiwanis Club members and volunteers from local scout troops and Key Clubs, worked this past Saturday to get the flags flying in time for the Town’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremonies staged across the street at Heckscher Park on Sunday.

The Field of Honor is organized by Huntington Kiwanis and was put together by volunteers in time for Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies.

Thanks to their efforts, and a playbook that has made the seemingly monumental task almost seem easy, the flags were up in time for the ceremonies, according to Field of Honor Chairman Dan Picard.

The Field of Honor remains a fundraiser for Kiwanis Club, which uses funds to support veteran’s causes and children’s charities. Among its initiatives, the club sends underprivileged children to Kamp Kiwanis summer camp, and funds a shopping trip at Christmas time.

Volunteers affixed the flags to poles which were then put in placed in a display in front of Town Hall.

Flags that fly over the Field of Honor can be purchased and dedicated to a veteran or active military service member. The cost is $35 and after the display is disassembled in December, the flag is made available for the buyer to pick up, or it can be donated to veteran’s groups.

To buy a flag, visit buyaflag.org online, or call 631-991-2001 for more information.

Kiwanis of Huntington member Dan Picard chairs the Field of Honor project.