Hundreds of people gathered for the opening ceremony of the 13th annual Merced Field of Honor on the Merced College lawn last Sunday, Nov. 9, as well as the annual Run For The Fallen that was held in the morning of the same day.
The Field of Honor — which will be open through this Saturday, Nov. 15 — is a place where family, friends and community members honor local veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders by sponsoring flags that are placed in rows at the corner of Yosemite and M streets.
It’s organized by the Merced Sunrise Rotary, presented by Joseph Gallo Cheese and the Peter J. Gallo Memorial Foundation, and supported by Merced College and dozens of local businesses and community groups.
Rotarian Darrell Cherf, the chairman of the event, said there were more flags being placed on the field than ever before. The count was at 2,060 and climbing as of last Sunday afternoon.
Merced College President Chris Vitelli credited broad community support for the event’s success.
“We provide the location, but Sunrise Rotary members are the ones who put in the time, the effort, the leadership, the resources, and the money — along with so many members of this community who have supported this beautiful symbol of freedom that we are also fortunate and blessed to have here in our country,” Vitelli said.
Peter Gallo spoke about his namesake uncle, Peter Joseph Gallo, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War, as well as both his grandfathers who served in World War II.
“I encourage all to carry the memory of the fallen with us, by taking action in our daily lives, and strive to be worthy of the gift of freedom we have been given,” he told the audience.
The keynote speaker during the opening ceremony was Steve Corbin, an Army veteran.
“First responders, law enforcement officers, and members of our eight uniform services are all people who are united by one core and ancient ethos,” he said. “In the Book of Isaiah, The Lord asks, ‘Whom shall I send?’ And Isaiah answers: ‘Here I am. Send me.’ Don’t send somebody else. Don’t send my neighbor. Send me. Send the into dangerous seas lands and skies. Send me into burning buildings. Send me to save lives, and to protect, and serve our community. Nobody makes them do this. They are selflessly called to be that tiniest fraction of our society. … They, and the families who love and support them, do this for all of us, and they must be prepared to give all, for all of us.”
The Merced Field of Honor is free to visit, and is open all day and all night, but staffed from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, through Nov. 15. A closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, starting at 2 p.m.