Category — Memorials

What does a flag mean?  Why is it important?  The questions are simple, the answers are not.  As with many simple questions, these answers are not easy to express.  The United States flag is, by its very nature, an emblem infused with feeling.  Old Glory reflects the most momentous events of our national history.  Yet the flag can also be very personal.   Sometimes in our national experience the momentous and the personal collide.

On the eleventh day of September in 2001, we watched television screens in disbelief as two planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center.  We stared in horror at images of the towers collapsing and killing thousands.  Trying to make sense of the senseless, we watched while three New York City fire fighters raised the Stars and Stripes over the ruble.  That simple act comforted.  The flag reminded us that those killed in the attacks had each became a part of America’s history of sacrifice.  It reminded us that we all are part of something greater than self.  We reached out to one another and found unity in our resolve.

In the days and weeks following the attacks, we found unity and a nation.  We remembered the values that unite us as a people.

On the first anniversary of the attacks, the United States flag served again as a focal point to comfort us and remind us.  Sandy, Utah became the setting for a new memorial.  Paul Swenson envisioned a brilliant display of the Star and Stripes.  Not one flag raised over rubble, but a mass of flags flying over a green field, a Healing Field.  Over three thousand flags, one flag for each casualty of the terrorist attacks.

Healing Field in Sandy, Utah.

Just as the enormity of the attacks overwhelmed us emotionally, the display of three by five foot U. S. flags mounted on eight foot poles impacts the viewer emotionally.

Over the years, the concept of the Healing Field has spread across the Nation to each state and the District of Columbia.

Each year, a Healing Field in Sandy has honored the sacrifices of the September eleventh attack.  This year, the ninth visible expression of the Healing Field will rise in front of Sandy’s City Hall.  Volunteers will set up the ordered lines of flags in the early evening of Thursday, September 9th and the flags will fly until Monday, September 13th.  A Dedication Ceremony will take place on the anniversary of the attack, September Eleventh at Twelve Noon.

Join us at the 2010 Sandy Healing Field.  Share with us this moving experience to bring us together as a Nation and as a people.

It is a Jewish custom to place a pebble or small rock on a tombstone when visiting a grave.  One explanation is that Abraham placed a pile of rocks over the grave of his wife, Sarah.  Visitors to the grave would add a rock to the pile.  It was a way to say that they wanted to add to Sarah’s monument so that she would never be forgotten.

In the same way, we place small flags on the graves of those who sacrificed their lives defending our freedom.  When we display a flag on a fallen hero’s headstone, it is a way of saying.”  We decorate your monument, that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.”  Display of flags on Memorial Day has been expanded to include the graves of all veterans.   We do this to recognize their service to our country.

On Memorial Day larger flags flown from flagpoles are lowered to half-staff during the morning.  This is done to collectively to honor all our war dead and deceased veterans.  When the U.S. flag is first raised in the morning, it is raised for an instant to the top of the pole.  It is then lowered to the half staff position.  At noon, the flag returns to the top of the pole.  It remains at full staff until the end of Memorial Day when it is lowered for the evening.

This centuries old custom began at sea.  Sailors lowered their ship’s ensign to half-mast as a sign of mourning.  The practice spread to land and is now a sign of mourning around the world.  Visit UtahFlagMan.BlogSpot.com for more information about flags flown at half-staff and at half-mast.

This Memorial Day our good friends at the Miller Motorsports Park will host the SBK World Super Bike race.  It will be the only race held in the western hemisphere of this prestigious event.  The race is only behind the Le Mans series and GT Moto as the third most followed motorized racing event in the world.  It is expected to draw over 130 million viewers worldwide.

Scene from SBK USA in the past - http://www.sbkusa.com.

The final race has typically been held on a Sunday and has taken on a European look even when it travels to the US.  This year it will have a distinct American look as the race becomes what is expected to become the singular most patriotic and family oriented event in the state of Utah on Memorial Day.  The organizers have collaborated with community leaders to craft a three pronged appeal.

First, it will be a party and state gathering place Friday the 28th.  A procession will take place from the Utah State Capitol Building to the Gateway area of Salt Lake City.  The streets will be blocked off to anything but motorcycle traffic a la Sturgis Bike Rally.  Saturday the party will move to the track in Tooele for a concert on Saturday night (Styx, Kansas, Journey).

Second, on Sunday and Monday it will shift to the race as the major focus.  The preliminary races on Sunday and finals on Monday.

Third, there will be exhibits put on by Hill Air Force Base and the National Guard, Marines, Navy and Army Reserve to honor Memorial Day.  The focal point of the Memorial Day displays will be the Healing Field Tribute Flag Display (2010 US Flags on 8 foot poles scattered strategically throughout the park).

Healing Field Display will count 2010 U.S. Flags. Photo by Perry Van Schelt.

In an effort to make this a statewide event, the Healing Field foundation and Miller Motorsports Park presented displays and answered questions at the Utah League of Cities and Towns midyear convention in St George, Utah.  Over 500 mayors and city council members form every city in Utah were able to learn of the event and were invited to join the procession and rally so that it truly becomes a “Utah “ tradition.

David Lewis, a super bike rider in the Miller Challenge portion of the race is a Utah native and joined the convention with two of his super bikes.   Mayors were able to sit on a super bike and get their photos taken against a back drop of Healing Field flags similar to what they would experience on race day.

David Lewis on his Superbike in St. George, Utah.

While this is being held in Utah, it is the main international super bike event each year in the United States.  It is expected that 45,000 will attend the actual race, with 10 million domestic viewers and 120 million international viewers tuned in.

Check out the details at SBKUsa.com and ColonalFlag.com.