Above / Mike Cooper played Taps at 5PM after 2,015 American flags had been set on Rotary Hill, Fri., Nov. 6.
On Nov. 6, 2015, volunteers assisted the Naperville Park District to set 2,015 American flags on Rotary Hill to begin the week-long exhibit to honor and remember all veterans. This year, the special tribute, “50 Years of Healing,” also recognizes the 3 million service men and women who left family and friends to fight a politically unpopular war in Southeast Asia, far from home.
Above / No matter what time of day, the Healing Field of Honor provides a place to pause and reflect about the words of 5-Star General Douglas MacArthur. “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace.”
Until Nov. 12, visitors to Rotary Hill also will have the opportunity to observe a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall to remember that more than 58 thousand died serving in Southeast Asia and many veterans who returned from the conflict did not receive a worthy welcome home. After five decades, the Naperville 2015 Healing Field of Honor® field of flags will stand as a solemn tribute to those who fought and died during the Vietnam War.
During the City Council meeting on Nov. 3, 2015, Healing Field Chairman Marty Walker addressed members (Public Forum “G”) about plans for the flag exhibit, returning for the third time to Rotary Hill to remember service and sacrifice from Nov. 6-12 at Rotary Hill.
Opening Ceremony at Rotary Hill
[shareprints gallery_id=”50903″ gallery_type=”squares” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”small” image_padding=”2″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]PN Update Above / A few photos from the opening ceremony are pictured in the collage. Simply click any photo to enlarge. All ages found meaningful ways to connect with the memorable flags on display that lead to the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, recreated by Blooming Color and sponsored by Minuteman Press.Â
Opening remembrances were held at 10AM Sat., Nov. 7, followed by Tag-a-Flag, a way to honor all veterans with a special yellow tag.
Saturday morning a large number of individuals said this year’s visit was their first. For whatever reasons, they had not visited the first two Healing Fields at Rotary Hill, each held for a week in 2009 and 2012, also in conjunction with Veterans Day.
Obviously moved by the sight of 2,015 American flags gently waving under the glorious sunshine, local residents said they’d be returning throughout the week to experience the tribute to veterans with family, friends and neighbors.
Every day from 9AM-5PM, the option to sponsor an American flag ($30 for the flag and $5 for the yellow tag) to honor anyone who has ever served the U. S. military or this country in any way will be available in the Visitors Center set up in the Riverwalk Eatery at the base of Rotary Hill.
Online flag sales have been completed, Walker said.
According to Anna Zimmerman, fundraising chair on the Healing Field Committee since its inception in 2009, flags will be available for sale again in the Riverwalk Eatery throughout the event until Nov. 12.
Local veterans, members of the American Legion Post 43 and the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, will be on hand to talk with visitors. Educational displays of military uniforms and memorabilia are stationed in the Riverwalk Eatery.
The proceeds from this memorial will go to the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation.
Find Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville, located at 443 Aurora Avenue across from Naperville Central High School.
Tag-a-Flag with Locator
“Yes, the Tag-a-Flag event is this Saturday and by noon (Nov. 7) we will tag flags and write down what location they are for those that show up later,” Zimmerman said.
“We’ll be open daily from 9AM-5PM. The Eatery will have full menu. The only item they may not have is soft serve ice cream. If the weather is forecasted to be warm next week they will add ice cream back on the menu.”
In addition to sponsoring flags, Zimmerman noted “some items from the Vietnam War also will be on display in the Eatery and most certainly information regarding the 11 from Naperville. This will be a very emotional week for all.”
Above / Remember Naperville’s annual Veterans Day observance will be held at Rotary Hill.
Observe Veterans Day at 11AM Nov. 11, 2015
Remember that for 2015, the Veterans Day observance usually held at Veterans Park will be moved to the Healing Field of Honor on Rotary Hill.
The ceremony begins promptly at 11AM Wed., Nov. 11, complete with patriotic music and the sounds of the 72-bell Millennium Carillon. The entire community is welcome to attend this annual observance organized by Naperville veterans from the American Legion Post 43 and Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873.
Rotary Hill is located at 443 Aurora Avenue across the street from Naperville Central High School.
RELATED PN POSTS / This website features many stories about the Healing Field of Honor, present and past. Â To find more with photos, simply use the Search tool in the upper right on this page for “Healing Field” or “50 Years of Healing.”
