Healing Field owes many its thanks

I would like to thank the entire Naperville community for embracing the Healing Field of Honor at Rotary Hill. From the opening flag escort caravan on Nov. 6, through the closing ceremony on Nov. 14, those of you who purchased a flag, attended an event or simply walked among the field of flags witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Those of you who purchased special tags to honor your loved ones transformed our Healing Field into a living and breathing memorial. None of us will ever forget that breathtaking sense of awe as we gazed out from atop Rotary Hill or the Carillon onto a virtual sea of American flags waving proudly in all their glory. The deep sense of American pride at Rotary Hill evoked memories of sacred places such as Arlington National Cemetery, Gettysburg or the American Cemetery in Normandy, France.

Thank you to all of our supporters for making this event possible: Dave and Dawn Kelsh, Toby Hayer, David and Shelly Hampton, Bev Eigenberg and the Mark Wright family. We would also like to thank the Exchange Club of Naperville, Naperville Women's Club, Noon Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Downtown Naperville, Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, American Legion Post 43, the Noon Lions Club, Ed Sandrick from Humana, Belgio's Catering, Meson Sabika, Friends of Fisher House Illinois, Window World of Chicagoland and Prager Moving & Storage.

Funds raised from this event will have a lasting impact on the lives of veterans' families who will be taking up temporary living quarters while their loved ones are undergoing medical treatment at Hines VA Hospital. While the total amount of our donation has not yet been disclosed, we are most grateful for the pledge of a matching gift donation recently announced by Operation Support Our Troops, Illinois.

Dave Wentz

Chairman, Naperville Healing Field of Honor