The Field of Honor, a display of American flags arranged in rows on the parade field at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum every fall, was unveiled Monday. Families and friends sponsor flags in honor or memory of loved ones who served in the U.S. military.
The 16th annual Field of Honor will be on display through Nov. 12 at the downtown Fayetteville museum.
Renee Lane, executive director of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, says there are 500 flags on the parade field this year, with 54 additional flags surrounding monuments and the Iron Mike Circle.
“We have people adopting American flags from California to Maine to fly in our Field of Honor," Lane told CityView magazine. “There are flags for those in honor or in memory of those who have served or who are serving now and for military spouses or children.”
Each flag is tagged with a nameplate, and a guide is placed at the entrance so families and friends can find their flags easily.
The display has grown so popular among photographers who want to use it as a backdrop for family photos that this year — to preserve a solemn atmosphere but also accommodate the families — the museum is limiting such photo sessions to two days. Photographers can purchase a pass through the ASOM website for Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.
After the flags are taken down Nov. 11, Lane says, they will be sent to homes across the nation or donated to the museum.
The Field of Honor is a partnership with Cool Spring Downtown District.
The Airborne & Special Operations Museum is at 100 Bragg Blvd. in downtown Fayetteville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Monday.
For more information, call 910-643-2778 or email info@asomf.org. Visit the museum’s website at asomf.org/.
