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COVENTRY, Conn. (WTNH) — Honoring those who fought for our freedom is an important part of celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday. A moving display in Coventry does that with hundreds of American flags dedicated to the people who sacrificed for the spirit of America.
The stars and stripes have been the symbol of the United States dating to the Revolutionary War. Each of the flags placed in a field in Coventry symbolizes even more.
“We are honoring veterans of all wars,” Carl Zetterstrom, post commander of American Legion Post 52, said.
Each flag has a tag with a veteran’s name, branch and period of service, and this year, the annual Flag Field for Heroes has flags representing more than 600 people who served their country.
“Many of them here are dead,” Joe Eaton, the finance officer of American Legion Post 52, said. “Many are still alive and serving today, but this was one way to be sure our veterans are recognized.”
Those heroes are honored in front of the homestead of Connecticut’s state hero: Nathan Hale. Hale served in the Continental Army.
When George Washington asked for volunteers to sneak into New York and spy on the British, Hale was the only volunteer. Statues around Connecticut and D.C. honor him as the young nation’s first spy. He was just 21 years old and had no spy training, and he was caught and hanged by the British after just a week and a half behind enemy lines.
It’s a sacrifice to which families of many veterans honored today can relate.
“You walk through that field and you look at some of those tags: Killed in action; Missing in action,” Zetterstrom said. “We have to honor their sacrifice, and that’s all we need to do, and that’s all I’m ever going to do.”
It’s the ninth year the American Legion, VFW, and Connecticut Landmarks have teamed up for a display that keeps growing, and growing in importance to veterans.
“Because it shows that the public, that their service has been remembered, even in this small way,” Eaton said.
Those flags are on display at the Nathan Hale Homestead through this Saturday, July 25.
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