September 4th – 7th, 2020
400 US Flags To Honor Veterans, First Responders And Medical Professionals
West Raleigh Exchange Baseball Field, 830 Barringer Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
RALEIGH – The Wake County Field of Honor® has been postponed to Labor Day weekend. The event, which will feature a field of more than 400 US flags in Raleigh flying in tribute to all veterans including those currently serving, those who returned to home and family after service and those who made the ultimate sacrifice leaving family, friends and our nation to mourn. Also honored will be our police, firefighters, and EMS who serve and protect our communities as well as the medical professionals who have been on the front lines of efforts against COVID-19.
The Wake County Field of Honor® will be held Friday, September 5, to Monday, September 7, 2020, at the Exchange Club of West Raleigh Baseball Complex at 830 Barringer Drive, Raleigh. The Wake County Field of Honor® is hosted by the Wake County Exchange Clubs. Attendance is free to the public and volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks.
“We had planned to hold the event on Memorial Day weekend, but out of concern for our visitors and volunteers, this change was necessary,” said Randy Hall, chair of the organizing committee. “We invite the community to walk among the flags and be part of this special event during the Labor Day weekend. We think it will be part of the healing process for our country as we recover from the current medical crisis. This will be a moving tribute to those in the armed services, veterans and first-responders. We’ve all seen the sacrifice of our medical professionals during this outbreak, so we think this will be a perfect way to salute them as well.”
Flags in the display may be dedicated to members of our armed forces, veterans, first responders and medical professionals. Identified by special tags, these flags may be sponsored for $35, and the flag with its tag will be received by sponsors as a memento of the event. Proceeds will raise funds to support charitable programs of Wake County Exchange Clubs.
The recent state stay-at-home order has presented a challenge for the project, said Hall. He urged area residents to support the project by going online. Flags may be purchased online at the Wake County Field of Honor® website: https://www.healingfield.org/event/raleigh20/
The first flag will be posted at 11 AM on Friday, September 5. A commemorative ceremony, featuring dignitaries and a salute to all branches of the armed forces, will be held 10:00 AM Monday, September 7 (rain or shine). The field will be available to tour 24 hours a day until 1 PM, September 7.
Exchange Clubs in Wake County include: The Exchange Club of Fuquay-Varina, The Exchange Club of New Hope Wilders Grove, The Exchange Club of North Raleigh, The Peak City Exchange Club of Apex, The Exchange Club of Raleigh, The Exchange Club of Swift Creek Township, and The Exchange Club of West Raleigh.
The National Exchange Club is the only service organization exclusively serving communities in the United States. More than 630 local clubs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico provide individuals with opportunities to use their time and talents to benefit their local communities and the country as a whole. Exchange’s Core Values are family, community, and country.