MT. COMFORT — Eight hundred American flags were raised in perfectly lined columns and rows on the fields of Indianapolis Regional Airport on Saturday. The stars and stripes flapped in the breeze — dress right, dress — in a field of honor, paying tribute to thousands of service members, veterans and first-responders across the country.
These men and women of valor put their lives on the line daily, said Hancock County Exchange Club president Jeff Young, who helped organize the dedication ceremony. The Field of Honor –a project put on by the Exchange Clubs of Lawrence and Hancock County — is a symbol recognizing their commitment to putting their country before themselves, he said.
The patriotic display was up throughout the week, from Wednesday through Sunday, coinciding with Flag Day.
“It’s probably one of the most successful projects I’ve ever taken part in,” Young said. “It was a very moving day.”
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The display saw more than 1,000 visitors throughout the week. They had 150 people at the ceremony Saturday, which featured speeches from Indiana State Senator Michael Crider and inspirational keynote speaker Josh Bleill, a Greenfield-Central High School graduate and Marine Corps combat veteran.
Bleill remarked on how most men and women serving as soldiers, fire responders or police officers aren’t primarily concerned about their own safety when they put on the uniform every day, he said. They’re worried about the men and women serving alongside them.
According to Bleill, it’s a kinship, and the men and women willing to put their lives on the line for country and community will regularly put others before themselves, Bleill said to the crowd.
Six American flags stood separate from the rest, Young said. Each flew to represent the service of six local firemen and police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty; they wanted to honor them separately, Young said.
As the honor guard from stations 71 and 72 came out in uniform to post the colors, Young saw tears dotting the eyes of former service members standing among the crowd.
One of the most touching sights Young said he saw that morning was a Korean War veteran — who was completely blind — asking to have the picture of the scene described to him. The veteran told Young that despite not seeing the massive tribute set before him, he wanted to bear witness to the ceremony all the same to honor his own fallen brothers, Young said.
The Field of Honor was one of many events that the Hancock County Exchange Club participates in to serve the veteran community, he said. In the past two years, Hancock County’s branch has partnered with exchange clubs from across the state to help 188 homeless Hoosier veterans find homes, Young said. It’s about giving back what they deserve, he said.
“Our slogan is thanking those who keep us safe, and thanking those who keep us free,” Young said. “That’s what it’s meant through this whole project.”
