Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, November 6, 2020

Field of Healing & Honor posted through Vets Day

PALMDALE, Calif.—About 200
people who were feeling it turned out
— outdoors, masked (mostly) and dis-
tanced considerately from others, to
the opening of the Field of Healing and
Honor: a ways and means of honoring
American heroes on the path to Veter-
ans Day in a turbulent 2020.
The 2,020 flags honor troops, vet-
erans, first responders and health care
heroes. The Field opened to the public
Nov. 1.
The City of Palmdale and Palmdale
Auto Mall Association provided major
support, and they were joined by an
army of citizen volunteers who spent
a couple of days placing the flags in
rows of perfection at Pelona Vista Park.
People driving south on the 14 Free-
way, and anyone with quiet minutes,
or an hour, can visit the field of flags
through Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Among those honored in the rows of
flags are the fallen of the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and also the “AV 76,”
the 76 young men from the Antelope
Valley who served in the Vietnam War
and were killed in action.
People who bought flags through
City of Palmdale and Colonial Flag
Foundation for $30 honored their fam-
ily’s heroes. Sales benefit local veter-
ans organizations: American Legion
Post 348, Palmdale; VFW Post 3000;
Vets 4 Veterans; Point Man Antelope
Valley, and Coffee4Vets. Photograph by Evelyn Kristo
With the support of the City Council, Motorists traveling along the 14 freeway in California’s Antelope Valley have a patriotic, elevated view of thousands of American flags on display for the Palmdale
the project was spearheaded by City Healing & Honor Field at Pelona Vista Park. The event, that will raise money for local veterans’ organizations, runs through Nov. 11.
Manager J.J. Murphy, a retired Air
Force major who served in the Global da Adams Edwards Willis. The City in two world wars of the 20th century, give people a sense of patriotic lift, we or Pro Tem Richard Loa.
War on Terror in the Horn of Africa. Council and Mayor Steve Hofbauer and continues to stand ready to pursue hope.” VFW 3000 Chaplain Fred Villa gave
At the Nov. 1 opening ceremony, rallied support for the concept, devel- and defend against terrorism in the 21st Anderson added the flags are there the invocation, and American Legion
the Blue Eagles Honor Guard from oped by Murphy. century. for us to salute and honor people who Area 6 leader Dave Corbin led the
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in Keynote speaker was U.S. Rep. “The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, already put their lives on the line for Pledge of Allegiance.
dress blue uniforms, marched on stage Mike Garcia, R-Calif., a veteran Navy the Marines, the Coast Guard, will al- all of us, such as Los Angeles County Also in attendance were State Sen.
smartly and presented the colors — as fighter pilot who flew missions in Iraq. ways be ready to defend America, and Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen and Deputy Scott Thomas Wilk, Assemblyman
they stood in front of the field of red, He gave the crowd assurance that the to protect everyone here,” Garcia said. Stephen Sorensen, and Los Angeles Tom Lackey and Assemblywoman
white, and blue flags waving in a slight nation could unify, even in turbulent Army veteran Dennis Anderson, a County firefighters Capt. Ted Hall and Christy Smith. Speakers included
breeze under a bright blue sky. times. licensed clinical social worker at High Arnie Quinones. Palmdale Sheriff’s Capt. Ron Shaffer,
The city team and volunteers’ initia- He paid tribute to Gold Star and Blue Desert Medical Group, served as mas- Anderson also honored the “baker’s and L.A. County Fire Battalion Chief
tive was organized by Planning Chair Star families, and praised a World War ter of ceremonies. dozen” of sons and a daughter killed Chris Siok, who recalled the line-of-
Stacia Bertain Nemeth, working with II veteran at the gathering, noting that “The flags aren’t waving for deco- while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, duty deaths of firefighters, including
key city staff Annie Pagliaro and Lin- America saved the world from tyranny ration,” Anderson said. “They will the AV 76 from Vietnam, and doctors, Capt. Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones
nurses, and frontline workers working during the 2009 Station Fire.
the COVID-19 wards in hospitals here Wilk said, “I was almost moved to
in the Antelope Valley and across the tears just coming down the steps into
nation. the park.”
He recalled Air Force Capt. Victoria Lackey said, “I don’t like election
Pinckney Smith, a classmate of his son, time, and this one is terrible, but this
Garrett. The two attended kindergarten is something that shows there can be
together at Desert Rose Elementary unity, and we can come together as a
School, and both graduated Palmdale nation.”
High School. Gus Camacho spoke for Palmdale
“A few years after my son fought Auto Mall Association, saying, “It
with the Marines in Fallujah, Victoria didn’t take long for us to see it, and
was killed flying a refueling support say, ‘Yes, we want to be involved with
mission for Afghanistan,” Anderson this.’”
said. Dick Allen, CEO for Palmdale Re-
“These flags are for them,” he said. gional Medical Center, honored health
“That’s why we call it a Field of Heal- care workers, noting that during eight
ing and Honor. And healing and honor months of the COVID-19 pandemic,
is something we need to be thoughtful “They come to work, every day, put
and respectful about in these divided their own lives and health on the line,
times. ” and they do their work, every day.”
Elected officials on hand included The ranking officer attending was
Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer, City Brig. Gen. David Smith, California
Council Members Laura Bettencourt, State Military Reserve commander,
Austin Bishop, Juan Carrillo and May- who previously served at Edwards.
For more photographs from the Healing & Honor Field, visit www.aerotech-
Photograph by Adrienne King news.com/blog/2020/11/03/field-of-healing-and-honor-posted-through-veterans-
Visitors wander among the 2,020 U.S. flags on display at Pelona Vista Park in Palmdale, Calif. day-2020/

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