15^th ANNUAL MURRIETA FIELD OF HONOR IN TOWN SQUARE PARK DEBUTS NOVEMBER 4

The 15^th annual Murrieta Field of Honor will be on display November 4-11 in Murrieta’s Town Square Park, giving visitors the opportunity to recognize their heroes in an awe-inspiring site with 2,023 full-sized American flags.

Each year for the past 15 years, the Field of Honor has recognized heroes –those who served or are serving in the United States armed forces, law enforcement, fire and other first responder posts, plus personal heroes.   In addition to the 2,023 flags available for dedication to personal heroes, the Field features sections for Medal of Honor recipients, Local Heroes (those from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, who have given their lives for this country since 2003), historical flags, a flag dedicated to those who perished in 9/11, state flags and a patriotic chalk walk.

The Field of Honor idea was originally brought to the City of Murrieta by a Murrieta Rotary group headed by Vietnam Veteran and Club President Bob Bryant.  Town Square Park was new and with its Veterans Memorials was the perfect spot for the Field honoring heroes.  Since then, Murrieta Field of Honor has grown with additional displays, student field trips and has become a Signature Event for the City.

Today, the Field of Honor is brought to Murrieta as a community service by the Rotary Club of Murrieta in partnership with the City of Murrieta.  In recent years, the Rotary Club of Temecula Valley New Generation joined in presenting the Field.  The Field of Honor is held in the park, located just two blocks off I-15, and stretches from City Hall at Jefferson and Kalmia streets, to the Murrieta Library.  The display is free and open to all.

Opening ceremonies for the 2023 Field of Honor recognize First Responders, including the Murrieta fire and rescue and police departments.  This is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4.  In addition, there will be entertainment.  Local and state officials will speak.

As the flags are being placed in perfect rows in the park early on Saturday, November 4, artists participating in the Al Vollbrecht Rotary Chalk Walk will be creating patriotic works of art on the sidewalks surrounding the park.

A salute to the United States Marines on their 248^rd birthday will be held on Friday, November 10.  Murrieta’s popular Veterans Day parade will be Saturday, November 11.  A candlelight concert with Murrieta students is planned for Wednesday night and a Boy Scouts Final Flag Salute ceremony is planned on Thursday evening.

“Murrieta Rotary and our partners are honored to present this spectacular event as a gift to our Southwest Riverside community,” said Rob Haskins, 2023-24 president of the Club.  “And we are especially thankful for our Field of Honor sponsors who not only make this event possible but also make it possible for Rotary to fund many significant projects throughout the year.”

The Field of Honor’s Organizing Committee is led by Past Murrieta Rotary President Lou Ellen Ficke and Jennifer Rasmussen, past president of the New Generation Club.  The planning committee started meeting early this year.

Each American flag is three by five feet on an eight-foot pole and can be purchased for $35.  They can be purchased at https://www.murrietarotaryclub.org/product/flag-sponsorship , until Friday, Nov. 3 or by going to the Field of Honor during the week it is on display.  Each sponsored flag is tagged with the name of the honoree and rank, service or other designation.  Those who have flags from previous years that are in good condition can have them reposted for $10.

Flag purchasers can pick up their flags on Saturday, Nov. 11, and from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Nov. 12.

Proceeds from the 2023 Field of Honor will benefit community projects like the Club’s annual teacher grants, scholarships, and speech and music contests and more, all funded by the Rotary Club of Murrieta Foundation. Nonprofit groups affiliated with the Field of Honor who sell flags will receive $10 for each flag sold.

Furthering the Field of Honor’s educational benefits, all Murrieta Valley Unified School District fifth grade classes will visit the Field during the week, hear explanations about the displays and complete class assignments.

Full Schedule of Events

Sat. Nov. 4
10 a.m. – Opening ceremonies honor first responders.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Al Vollbrecht Rotary Chalk Walk artists developing patriotic images

Sun., Nov 5
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Al Vollbrecht Rotary Chalk artists developing patriotic images

Mon. Nov. 6
Murrieta Rotary Club’s Veterans Lunch.  By invitation only

Mon. Nov. 6-9
9 a.m.-11 a.m. – Student field trips.

Wed. Nov. 8
6 p.m. – Candlelight Concert features choirs from the Murrieta middle schools; reading of “Letters from War” by The Wunderlich Family.

Fri. Nov. 10
Noon – Marine Corps Birthday celebration -open to the public
5 p.m. – Boy Scouts conduct Final Salute flag retirement

Sat. Nov. 11
10 a.m.-noon. City of Murrieta’s Veterans Day Parade, concluding at the Field of Honor
11:30 a.m. – City of Murrieta unveils Vietnam War Memorial

Sat., Nov. 11
9 a.m. -5 p.m., Flag Pick-ups

Sun., Nov. 12
9 a.m. – noon, Flag Pick-ups