TOWN OF DEWITT – Through the week of Independence Day, the Syracuse Sunrise Rotary Club is paying tribute to veterans and first responders with its “Field of Flags” event.
On Friday, June 24, members of the club planted a total of 30 flags in the ground surrounding the 9/11 Memorial near the DeWitt Town Hall on Butternut Drive. This display is set to run until Saturday, July 9.
As part of a coinciding fundraiser that will benefit various local charities, commemorative $40 banners have been purchased to be individually attached to these flags. Measured at about 4 inches by 9 inches, each banner will feature details like the honoree’s rank, the years they served and the location where they were stationed.
“It’s really a way to honor our heroes,” said event chairman Raul Huerta, who had two uncles in World War II and an aunt known for being one of the first women to win a Bronze Star.
This year’s “Field of Flags” event is the first to be held by the local Rotary club, but member Ron Bildstein said it will be an annual occurrence.
“It’s important to understand why we have our independence and our country,” Bildstein said. “It’s the sacrifices made by those who serve, both now and in the past.”
Additional funds can be donated through the accompanying page on givsum.com.