'Wonderful tribute' to military coming with Naperville Healing Field
Four more flags will join a display already known for creating a stirring visual presence along the Naperville Riverwalk as the city's fourth Healing Field of Honor begins Friday.
The field will feature 2,019 American flags posted at Rotary Hill to honor military members, veterans and their families. The event, seen previously in Naperville in 2009, 2012 and 2015, begins at noon Friday with flag setup conducted by volunteers and concludes about 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, with the playing of taps to commemorate Veterans Day.
Each time the Naperville Park District and a volunteer committee have collaborated to host a Healing Field as a local display of patriotism, the number of flags has grown to match the year.
Anyone can sponsor a flag and tag it with the name of a military member or veteran they'd like to honor. Sponsors can pick up their flag for $40 or have it shipped to them for $47 to continue the tribute that begins with the banners flying together at the foot of the hill.
"To me, it never gets old," said Lisa Gangi, leader of this year's Healing Field committee. "It never is repetitive. It's always unique and unusual and edifying."
The field each year picks a theme around a period of American military history. The theme helps inform the public to gain an appreciation beyond "simplistic, blind patriotism" and to recognize a subset of veterans or service members, Gangi said.
This year's theme is "Remembering a Century of Heroes and Heritage." Milestones to be observed include the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which effectively ended World War I; the 100th anniversary of the formation of the American Legion; and the 75th anniversary of Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 in Naperville.
Visitors to the field during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily can stop inside the Riverwalk Cafe to see artifacts from World War I and beyond on loan from private collectors as well as Naper Settlement and the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park. A special tribute will honor the seven men from Naperville who died while serving in the military during World War I.
"We'll have pieces of history for people to stroll through to learn why we're celebrating this milestone in American history," Gangi said.
Also inside the cafe, visitors can buy tickets to tour the Millennium Carillon observation deck and look down upon the field from the top of Moser Tower. Tickets will be sold for $3 each from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays during the event and from noon to 4 p.m. after an 11 a.m. ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Veterans and active-duty military members can take the tour for free.
"It's a very unique way to be able to see the Healing Field - to get that bird's-eye view," said Brad Wilson, director of recreation for the Naperville Park District.
Flag sales are available online at https://www.healingfield.org/naperville19/ and also in-person at the field, 443 Aurora Ave. Flag sponsorships and other donations will benefit Leap of Faith, a program of the Naperville-based nonprofit Operation Support Our Troops - America that helps families who have lost a military service member.
"It's a wonderful tribute," Wilson said.