Healing Field of Honor returns to Naperville's Rotary Hill Nov. 1-11
Naperville Park District, in collaboration with the Naperville Healing Field Committee, will host the community's fourth Healing Field of Honor from Nov. 1-11 at Rotary Hill, located at 443 Aurora Ave.
Displaying 2,019 American flags on Rotary Hill during this event creates a stunning tribute to our military and their families and also raises money through Operation Support Our Troops-America to assist veterans and their families.
This year, the theme of the Healing Field of Honor is "Remembering a Century of Heroes and Heritage," commemorating three historic events: the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which effectively ended the first World War, the 100th anniversary of the formation of the American Legion and the 75th anniversary of the founding of Naperville's Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873.
The flag display will be officially opened on Friday, Nov. 1, with an opening ceremony and will close on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. with the playing of "Taps."
The community is invited to purchase a flag, dedicate a flag to a veteran, make a donation or become a sponsor of the event by visiting www.healingfield.org/Naperville19.
Funds raised in 2019 will support Leap of Faith, a program through Operation Support Our Troops that helps families who have lost a military service member.
A special addition to this year's remembrance of World War I is a free showing of the Warner Brothers/Peter Jackson film, "They Shall Not Grow Old" at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in the Naperville North High School auditorium, 899 N. Mill St.
This film is a stirring remake of old footage of life in the trenches, adding modern effects and carefully researched dialogue to present the realities of World War I more clearly in a film than ever before.
In addition to viewing or walking through the field of flags on Rotary Hill, visitors may stop at the bottom of the hill near the Riverwalk Café to see a tribute to the seven men from Naperville who gave their lives serving in World War I. Inside the Café there will be more information and displays of military and historical artifacts.
Additionally, the Riverwalk Café will be offering a special menu during the Healing Field event from Friday, Nov. 1, through Monday, Nov. 11.
The Café will serve beverages and food from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Veterans and active duty military members will receive a 10% discount on non-alcoholic purchases at the Café, a free cup of hot coffee and 50 cent coffee refills.
Naperville Park District will offer carillon tours to view the Healing Field from the observation deck from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays during the event (Nov. 2, 3, 9 and 10) and from noon to 4 p.m. on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11.
Tour tickets cost $3 and will be sold at the Riverwalk Café. Veterans and active duty military members will receive a free ticket to tour the carillon during the event.
Rotary Hill has hosted the Healing Field of Honor in 2009, 2012 and 2015, raising funds for Fisher House at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital and the Allen J. Lynch Foundation, which supports research on traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.