ORANGE, Calif.—In the grassy outfield amid a cluster of little league baseball diamonds, 1,200 American flags blow in the gentle breeze on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, in Handy Park in Orange County.
Hosted by the Community Foundation of Orange, the annual flag display known as the Field of Valor was created to honor military veterans. It’s now celebrating its 10th year running.
“The Field of Valor not only displays the beauty of the flag, but also an importance to our veterans,” Community Foundation of Orange Executive Director Susie Cunningham told The Epoch Times.
“Each flag has a posted individual tribute to our veterans, both living and past.”
The flag display took five hours to set up, but it had a waiting list of volunteers ready to help, according to Cunningham. More than 100 people volunteered to help in total.
The flags have laminated short biographies of veterans from all branches of the United States military on display for park-goers to read about servicemen and women.
American flags on display to honor U.S. military veterans in Handy Park, in Orange, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
American flags on display to honor U.S. military veterans in Handy Park, in Orange, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
“Awe, wonder, gratefulness, sadness ... there is lots of emotion that happens in the Field of Valor,” Cunningham said.
“Even amongst children, this is a great education opportunity for them to see the flags and learn about our veterans.”
Along the eastern side of the American flags and tributes, one man in his 60s wearing an “Army Veteran” hat suddenly stopped and obtained a serious look on his face, slowly taking off the hat while reading the biography of a fellow service member.
He quickly made his way out of the park area after appearing to be filled with emotion by what he read.
“These flags are a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for us,” Cunningham said.
American flags on display to honor U.S. military veterans in Handy Park, in Orange, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
American flags on display to honor U.S. military veterans in Handy Park, in Orange, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Around noon, one woman in her late 70s walked along the rows of flags—carefully reading each biography through her sunglasses and large sun cap.
“I am from out of town but came to enjoy the [flag display] with my family who is around here somewhere,” Gaye Elby, whose husband served in the U.S. Marine Corps, told The Epoch Times.
“You can really see the beauty of our flag today here in this nice park.”
The Community Foundation of Orange will be using funding generated through flag sponsorships to support local veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families, according to the foundation’s website.
Flags are available for $35 for one year or $90 for three years and come with a tribute card sharing details about the honored service member. They will be available for purchase until Nov. 14.
The Field of Valor will be open for public viewing until Nov. 15.
American flags on display to honor U.S. military veterans in Handy Park, in Orange, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
