Post updated May 2024

Memorial Day means more than just a three-day weekend and the opportunity for cookouts with friends and family. Observed annually the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a time to recognize the sacrifice of U.S. military personnel that have lost their lives while serving our country. In Westerville, the holiday offers a time to reflect on your heroes and remember lost loved ones. For the past 16 years, the Westerville Sunrise Rotary has been putting on the Field of Heroes event to honor those that are important to us.

Visit Westerville had the opportunity to speak to Larry Jenkins, founder of Field of Heroes, to learn about the history of the event, and Jim Caldwell, co-chair of Field of Heroes, about what to expect at the event. Here’s what they had to share.

Flashback to 16 years ago - Larry Jenkins was a Westerville resident and in line to become the next President of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary. The community was in need of a fundraising event to replace the annual pancake breakfast that had run its course. On the lookout for a new option, Larry found the Colonial Flag Foundation, which at the time was focused on 9/11 memorial tributes, but Larry had other ideas of how he could create a successful event in Westerville. While the Foundation licenses the design concept and Westerville purchases the field materials from them, the Sunrise Rotarians and community volunteers have the option to brand it themselves for on-sight design and set-up. Larry wanted the event to provoke positive feelings of pride, instead of sadness, and recognized that everyone has someone for whom they’re grateful, who has been there for them, who has opened doors for them, and for many people this includes Veterans and first responders. Given the timing, the event is most known for its focus on our Fallen Heroes, but it’s so much more than that, and from a personal perspective, the event is really meant to honor anyone that is important to participants.

Year one of Westerville’s Field of Heroes had a goal to sell 1,500 flags, but only managed just under 1,000 flags. Larry and team quickly realized the pressure of sales and knew that’s not what they wanted the event to be about, so they shifted focus to make it about community outreach and an event everyone could look forward to each year, which is exactly what it has transformed into today.

About Field of Heroes with Jim Caldwell

VW: What is the Field of Heroes Event?
JC: Celebrating its 16^th year in 2024, Field of Heroes takes place each Memorial Day Weekend at the Westerville Sports Complex, now featuring the brand-new Veterans Memorial Park. The event is designed for Central Ohioans to remember and honor their personal heroes through flag displays, reading of names, concerts, a 5K run/walk and more, concluding with the Memorial Day ceremony. It really is a spiritual experience to walk through the field and see the significance of it. It’s a healing place for Veterans and offers great stories for folks visiting.

VW: What can patrons expect?
JC: Each year, Field of Heroes focuses on a different theme and this year's theme is Ohio Heroes of Flight. The field will feature 2,500-3,000 flags as well as traditional events such as the tribute board and education tent. It will also incorporate the new Veterans Memorial Park into the programming. In addition to the traditional activities, there are other Civil-War-era themed events taking place during the weekend:

• Hanby House Tours – Take a tour of the home of William and Ann Hanby, a significant Underground Railroad stop, and learn about the abolitionist’s roles during that time. The event is free, and tours are available Saturday May 25 from 1-4 p.m.
• Free Concert – Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m., there will be a free concert at the park featuring Westerville Community Bands. Picnics are encouraged!
• 5K Run/Walk for Heroes – Presented by Ohio Health, this 5k run/walk Sunday, May 26 at 8 a.m. is a family-friendly race beginning at the park and offers unique opportunities to finish among 2,500+ full size American flags! Sign up here.
• Ohio History Muffins vs. Westerville Sunrise Rotarians – You may or may not know that baseball started during the Civil War era and the Ohio Historical Society has a baseball team, the Ohio Village Muffins, that play baseball like they did back in the 1800’s. Taking place at the field on Sunday, May 26 at 6 p.m. will be an authentic, old-time baseball game between the Muffins and Westerville Rotarians. This is an event you won’t want to miss
• Ceremony and Flyover - End the weekend of reflection with the official Memorial Day Ceremony and flyover of the Commemorative Air Force Buckey Wing on Monday, May 27 at 12:15 p.m.

View the full schedule of events here.

VW: How can people support the event or honor their hero?
JC: Purchasing a flag is a great way to memorialize a Veteran, or even a mentor. While the weekend is focused on remembering those who served our country and lost their lives in the line of duty, we also want to make the event about remembering those who are important to us. That could be a friend who lost a child, a mentor in your life, your own fallen hero or so much more. Purchase a flag and have it dedicated to that special person, and have it on display in the field during the weekend to visit, take pictures and pause to reflect on what that person meant to you. Purchase a flag here.

The Future of Field of Heroes

Larry sees bright things for the future of the event. Currently, it is run by many volunteers giving up their holiday weekend to support it. Through a great relationship with the city and the addition of the brand-new Veterans Memorial Park, the team wants to make it into a sustainable event for the community. The weekend is more than just the pools opening or cookouts, and Westerville hopes to continue to bring the essence of Memorial Day back to remember those who have sacrificed while making it different and engaging each year so people want to keep coming back every year.

When asked what their favorite part of the event is, both Jim and Larry had a similar response – visit at sunrise and/or sunset. Larry’s recommendation is to come at least twice – come during the day (especially on a blue sky, sunny day) and late at night (the park is open 24 hours/day and lit at night) when the field is quiet and the flags are still with their shadows. After midnight the park is peaceful and serene and in the early hours of the morning, you can watch the sunrise over the flags according to Jim.

For more information about the event, visit fieldofheroes.org.

Post by Michelle Downar