Murrieta Field of Honor

Murrieta Rotary’s awe-inspiring, emotion-filled patriotic event, the Field of Honor, flies for the 8th year Nov. 5-12, when hundreds of folks from the region recognize their personal heroes with a flag. More than 2,000 full-sized American flags will be set up in perfect rows and columns for the week-long event that also features a number of other activities. It’s a week to pay honor and express thanks. And it’s also a time to educate — visitors to the Field gain knowledge about American history. We learn about our country’s flags, its highest military honor, its war dead.

The Rotary club, a local group of some 50 active members, started the project in 2009 as a community service to honor those who have been heroes in our lives. Many are military veterans and first-responders, but more also are grandparents, favorite teachers and even some organizations, whomever a sponsor wishes to recognize. Rotary is flying 2,016 flags this fall, which will fill much of the park located in the civic hub of the city, surrounded by city hall, the police station, library and senior center.