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Veterans Healing Field of Honor
Multi Conflict/ Multi Military Branch Event
This particular application of the Healing Field program honors US veterans from all branches of the military and from 6 US conflicts.
This presentation can be done with any combination of wars or conflicts
and is easy to adjust to fit the community needs.
Veteran’s Healing Field of Honor
On
Veteran’s Day 2004, several branches of the military came together to
organize an application for the Healing Field program that honored all
veteran’s from all US conflicts from WWI to the present. In this
particular presentation there were representatives from the Army,
Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard
This
application of the Healing Field for such a worthy display of
appreciation was so appropriate and amazing that we decided to adopt it
and add it to our suggested types of Healing Field programs. It
is best achieved in cooperation with a military organization such as
the Guard, Reserves or any other branch that is represented in the
community that could assign a representative to assist. Contacting the local military community relations officer is the first step.
The Layout
The
Veteran’s Healing Field of Honor consists of a relatively smaller
number of flags as each flag represents a ratio or number of casualties. The layout of the field is divided into six sections. Each section represents a US conflict and is labeled with a banner or sign describing the specifics of that war.
The six major conflicts are WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. One layout uses wider isles to separate each section and a monument is displayed at the head of each section.
The Ceremony
The ceremony starts with a color guard and the pledge of  allegiance. This can have any variation and display that works for the layout of the field. Veteran’s
young and old are invited to place the final row of 3 or 4 flags in
each section to complete the field and start the ceremony. As they place the flags, the conflict details and statistics are narrated. Names
are called out for each of the final flags placed to symbolize that
each flag represents a life given for the cause of freedom.
The
monument is then brought out for each section and consists of a replica
rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags vintage to the era of the particular
conflict. These are carried out and placed on a box by a memorial color guard from the different branches of the military.
These service men and women stand at attention in front of the section of the field during the remainder of the ceremony. You may want to include Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Coast Guard, Sailors and so on. This all depends on the local resources. If
the host community does not have access or the availability of
representation from all branches, they can incorporate what resources
they have.
Once the
final flag is placed and the veterans stand at attention, a 21-gun
salute is performed by military or local law enforcement
representatives.
Any additional speakers, entertainment or honors are performed and then the field is officially opened to the public. Visitors are invited to walk through the field and thank the service men and women and take pictures. They
are also encouraged to sponsor a flag, as the proceeds will be donated
to local military veterans or family readiness groups. The flags are then taken home and flow in business and neighborhoods as the tribute continues in our neighborhoods.
Last Updated Wednesday, December 07 2005 @ 12:32 PM GMT-7 
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