American Legion, Auxiliary Hoping For 800 Flags To Honor Hometown Heroes

HARTFORD — The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Connecticut will host a Healing Field display of more than 800 American flags. The display will be at Bushnell Park, in the shadow of the Capitol Building, and the flags will fly from June 13 to 15. The flags will honor “Hometown Heroes” living or dead. Whether they are a service person that has died, who is currently serving, or who has served the country in the past, a firefighter, police officer, EMT, teacher, family member, or friend who helped in troubled times or gave their life helping others, all heroes will be honored through the nomination and sponsorship of an American flag.

On June 12, volunteers and organizers will transform the grassy field at Bushnell Park into a moving display of red, white, and blue. The event is free and open to the public to walk through, honor, heal, and remember. The flags will measure three by five feet each and will each be displayed on an eight-foot-tall pole.

Individuals can sponsor a flag and at the conclusion of the event, on Sunday, June 15, can take the flags home to continue their tribute and honor to their Hometown Hero. Flags may also be donated to Connecticut schools or to the sponsor’s choice. Businesses are welcome to sponsor this event as well and flags will be included at each level.

Sponsorships begin at $30 (flag sponsor level, which includes a flag and certificate) and go as high as $7,500 (Red level sponsor, with 150 flags and certificates, donation of flags in their name to a Connecticut school system of the donor’s choice, logo and link from the online Hometown Heroes website, the donor’s logo on the event program or flyer, and a banner at the Healing Field).

Believing that the nation’s future lies in its youth, all funds raised through sponsorships and flag sales will be donated to the scholarships that The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary provide, not only to the children of their members, but also to the children of all Connecticut communities.

For a complete program schedule or more information, contact: Alice Saxton at 426-7728 or 304-3383 or visit www.HealingField.org/Hartford,