Two-hundred American flags will continue flying on the lawn outside the Farmingdale Public Library, through Dec. 7, as part of the local Kiwanis club’s “Field of Honor” ceremony.
Every year, Kiwanis members fill the field with red, white, and blue, in honor of all of our veterans—not only the ones who served, but also those currently serving overseas as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Patrick Burns, a United States Navy veteran and president of the Kiwanis Club of Farmingdale, said the annual tradition first started a few years back, when members of the Massapequa Kiwanis club stepped in to assist the then-defunct
Farmingdale chapter. After regrouping, the Farmingdale Kiwanis continued the yearly tradition, setting up the flags in precision rows, surrounded on each side by Military flags from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and P.O.W./M.I.A.
For Burns, the “Field of Honor” ceremony is a way for everyone to show respect and to help out veterans that fought to maintain our way of life.
“It means a lot because [veterans] are the reason we are walking around free,” Burns said. “Freedom is gained through the military that protects us.”
To help out, residents can sponsor an American flag for $25 or a military flag for $200. The flags will fly from Nov. 3 to Dec. 7, wherein the flags are retired, ceremonially folded, and then given back to the sponsor. According to Burns, the Kiwanis Club has collected $1000 as of press time.
A portion of the “Field of Honor” proceeds will go to benefit veterans oganizaions—including VFW Post 516 in Farmingdale—as well as Boy Scout Troop 261 and the Farmingdale High School Key Club.
Flags can be flown in anyone’s name and there is no need for veteran status to participate. For additional information contact the Kiwani’s president Patrick Burns at 646-436-5258 or email at farmingdalekiwani@aol.com.
