In honor of Veterans Day, the Kiwanis Club, along with the Key Club, constructed their annual Field of Honor on November 10.

According to the Massapequa High School website, the Field of Honor construction was supposed to take place on November 3. A ceremony was to follow on Sunday, November 4 at nine in the morning, but was rescheduled for November 11 due to Hurricane Sandy.

One month prior, flyers were posted, giving people the opportunity to take part in the event and donate to help veterans in need.

“With the Field of Honor, we look to pay tribute to not only those who have served, but also those of our family who we choose to honor by placing a flag in their dedication,” Field of Honor Chairperson John Kilgus said.

All proceeds earned from the event benefited local veterans and community programs.

“Being a veteran myself and seeing how all of this helps not only other veterans but also those active in the military, it gives you a rewarding and proud feeling,” Mr. Kilgus said. He also said that he hopes to see the continuation and success of this event in the future.

Annual preparations for this event begin in March and prove to be very involved and time-consuming. Various tasks that need to be accomplished include but are not limited to several meetings with participating schools and groundskeepers, purchasing the actual flags along with other necessary supplies, and alphabetizing the name tags for the flags going on display. Each task involved requires diligence and effort. However, it is all worth it in the end.

“When the community and honorees show up and see what has been accomplished, it brings a sense of pride and unity to us all,” Mr. Kilgus concluded.

The Field of Honor dedication is a nationwide event; notably, several other towns on Long Island participate every year, including Amityville, Plainedge, Farmingdale, and Seaford. Mr. Kilgus says the Massapequa Kiwanis Club became involved with this event through hearing about it from other clubs in the state.

“We immediately desired to take part in it,” he said.

Since then, approximately 1,600 flags have been sponsored and 3,000 flags have been installed. This has been the third annual Field of Honor event constructed by the Massapequa Kiwanis Club. The Key Club participates by helping to set up the flags on the construction date.

The display appeared on the front lawn of the High School until December 8 when it was retired. It stood tall and proud for all those passing by to see.

“It makes me proud to honor all of the hardworking veterans. They have put their lives on the line to ensure safety for citizens everywhere,” sophomore Bridget Keegan said.