North Adams Church Hosting 'Field of Flags' Memorial
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The resulting "Field of Flags" across the lawn of First Congregational Church will be a colorful but somber memorial to those who have fallen in war during the past decade, and the ripple effect the conflicts have had on families and communities.
"It's something that I've wanted to bring to First Congregational Church and Massachusetts since I've been here," said the Rev. Pat Kriss. "I've been working on it since I came here two years ago."
The traveling installation began as a visible reminder of the cost of war at Somerset Congregational Church in Connecticut in 2005. Back then, 2,231 little flags fluttered in the church's Memorial Garden; the names of each of the casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan were noted and a plaque with their names, state and rank was posted in the field.
The congregation didn't expect that its salute would draw the attention it did. Its website states:
"The Field of Flags had more impact than the committee envisioned with the media coverage and the emotional reaction from our community and beyond. People came from towns across the state and out of state to see the flags and view the name board. Individuals and families have found the display to be emotional, yet comforting to know that their loved ones have been remembered."
Since then, the flags have visited churches around Connecticut and as far away as Florida, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
A similar memorial was used in the eastern end of the state but Friday will be the first time that the Somerset "Field of Flags" will be installed in Massachusetts, said Kriss. The installation has a two-pronged goal: to recognize the war dead and raise awareness of their sacrifice for peace.
"It's a way of honoring people who've made the ultimate sacrifice and keep in mind the high cost of war and conflict ... it honors their memory and drives home the point of the need to heal our differences," said the pastor, who noted the installation will fall between the city's Civil War soldier on Monument Square and the peace post on the church's lawn. "It's pride and tears at the same."
Kriss said the Somers congregation is still supporting the flag memorial despite its own tribulations — working to rebuild its 170-year-old church that burnt at the beginning of the year.
Volunteers will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday setting out the flags — one for every casualty in Iraq and Afghanistan. A large laminated sign lists all of the servicemen and -women killed.
A formal dedication ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 30, at 11 a.m. on the front lawn and a worship service focusing on veterans will be held on Sunday, July 1. Color guards from the Clarksburg and Adams veterans groups will participate each day, and several dignitaries are expected to speak at the dedication ceremony. The public, especially veterans, is invited to both events.
Kriss said a steady stream of 12 to 20 volunteers an hour are needed on Friday to place the flags in order. The church hosts the Berkshire Food Project, which feeds some 150 people a day, so Kriss is inviting those individuals to lend a hand but anyone willing to volunteer an hour or more of their time on Friday is welcome to participate.
"It's not very casual," she said of the installation. "When it's set up on the property, it gives it more of a sense of it being a cemetery."
The installation will be at the church for about three weeks, weather and other factors permitting. Kriss wasn't too worried about this week's dreary weather.
"I'm betting God will give us at least good weather for the dedication," she said. "This is really an honor for the city."
Tags: flags, memorial,
