‘Heartbreaking and heroic’: 1,500 flags fly in Naperville to salute veterans
Look up at the 160-foot-tall Moser Tower along Naperville's Riverwalk, and there’s a giant American flag flying far overhead.
As impressive as that is, it’s not the only poignant display of Old Glory. A field of 1,500 flags is neatly arranged across Rotary Hill in tribute to military personnel past and present.
The Naperville Park District, in collaboration with Operation Support Our Troops-America, Naperville Responds for Veterans, Naperville American Legion Post 43, Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, and other community groups banded together to host the “Healing Field of Honor.”
Among the visitors Sunday were Julie Hunnicutt of Naperville and Marla Anderson of Lisle.
“This is dedication. Inspiring. Heartbreaking and heroic,” Hunnicutt said. “I have a son who is at West Point training to be an officer and I just thought I should come by here and see all of the service that people before have done.”
A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, bearing the names of more than 58,000 service members who died in Vietnam, is also on display.
A Veterans Day observance will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
People can also purchase the flags. Proceeds benefit Operation Support Our Troops-America, a nonprofit that sends care package items to deployed service members and organizes seminars for grieving families.
The flag tribute continues through Nov. 12.