Photo Credit: George McConnell
About Field of Honor
Traffic traveling along Graves Mill Road will see an explosion of red, white & blue as the Rotary Club of Forest posts 1,000 United States flags on the grassy field in front of the Automated Conveyor Systems. This striking display of the Stars & Stripes brings Lynchburg’s Annual Field of Honor® event to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is again hosted by the Rotary Club of Forest. The Club’s inaugural display brought organizers, volunteers and community visitors together in tribute to our Health Care Heroes, the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, first responders who rushed to their aid, and the military & veterans who before and since the beginning of the war against terror have risked all to defend and protect us. The Field in 2020 honored all front line Healthcare workers who worked diligently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Field of Honor® flags fly to honor the men and women who have and are defending our nation around the world. The number of surviving World War II veterans grows smaller each day, and the decades have multiplied since our military served on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam. In the years since the terrorist attacks of 2001 our military members have fought in the Middle East. With the fall of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, highlighted the sacrifices of first responders reminding us that they too place themselves in harm’s way to also protect us. All these heroes honored the flag and it is fitting that the display of the flag should honor them. It is time to show our appreciation.
At the close of the event, sponsors will retain the flags they dedicated to honor individuals. The Lynchburg display is a gift to the community made possible through donations, sponsorship and the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. You can show your support and gratitude by sponsoring a flag or making a donation.
The panorama of red, white and blue is hard to adequately describe, but once experienced it is not to be forgotten. This is especially true as the flags will fly in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is an event not to be missed.