Opening ceremony 10 a.m. Saturday for Healing Field of Honor

Rudy Keller never served in the United States' armed forces. One might not suspect that, given his passion for promoting patriotism.

"I'm just very appreciative of those who do serve and have served," to preserve freedom, Keller said.

That is why he has arranged for a Healing Field of Honor display, Saturday through Monday, at Kaneland High School, 47W326 Keslinger Road, Maple Park.

Keller is the interim athletic director at the high school. In March, he organized a patriotic assembly at the school, remembering three alumni who died in military service.

He also organized the November 2013 Healing Field display at West Aurora High School, where he had served as an interim co-principal from 2011 to spring 2013.

Friday morning volunteers will start erecting more than 1,000 3-by-5-foot U.S. flags on a field just east of the school. The display will follow a pattern established by the Colonial Flag Foundation.

Each sponsored flag honors someone who was in the armed forces.

People can sponsor a flag by donating $35. Tags displaying the honorees' names will be attached to the flags at an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Those who donate will get to take the flag and its pole home when the display is finished. Tags can be ordered at healingfield.org/kaneland. You can also order a flag at any Old Second National Bank location; make the check payable to Kaneland High School.

Those who want their flags mailed to them should include $10 more.

At 1 p.m. Saturday the Legacy Girls trio will perform, followed at 2:30 p.m. by the Chicago Royal Airs Drum and Bugle Corps.

At 1 p.m. Sunday bagpipers from the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums will perform.

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at noon Monday.