Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Field of Flags



As I was driving past a local funeral home yesterday afternoon, I did a double-take as I caught sight of a vast number of small American flags waving on the front lawn -- and people busily planting more. I wondered what they were doing, but didn't think too much more about it. I was tired and the date (and the significance thereof) completely escaped me at that moment. Then, on the 6:00 o'clock news, I saw a story on what it was all about. And I thought, "Well, all right. That is beautiful."

The funeral home, in remembrance of September 11, 2001, is placing 2,986 flags -- one for each victim -- on the lawn in conjunction with a candlelight memorial service scheduled for the night of September 11, 2006.

I think it's a powerful sight, a poignant sentiment, and a lovely thing to do. The flags make a dramatic statement, with or without a ceremony.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is a powerful thing to see. Makes you wonder its meaning and then becomes even deeper. It is easy to think of 3000, but seeing 3000 of something really drives home how big it actually is.

Serena said...

Steve, you are SO welcome. I meant every word of it. You really have the "touch." I could literally "feel" the ambience of that place.

The rows of white crosses on the WWI and WWII cemeteries in Europe are also very impressive. And sobering.

Serena said...

Powerful indeed, Kan. The sight of all those flags really drove home the reality of the event -- all over again.