Chris Burke wanders through the rows of American flags in the Kiwanis Park of Honor last November, searching for the flag his family sponsored in the name of United States Marine, Carl Butler, who served in the Philippines from 1956-1958 (File Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The 4th annual Park of Honor will feature 140 sponsored American Flags this year for the month long display that begins Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on the front lawn of Westfield Middle School.
The opening ceremony for this year’s display will feature several local officials who will address the crowd, including Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, State Sen. and Mayoral candidate Donald F. Humason Jr., and state Rep. John C. Velis.
Also speaking will be Frank Sposito, the incoming president of the Kiwanis Club, which organizes the Park of Honor each year.
“We welcome everyone to come down and see what it’s all about,” said Sposito, “This is to benefit the children of military members and first responders so some can get a scholarship towards a camp.”
The 140 flags that will be on display is an increase from last year where just over 100 flags were shown. Each flag will feature the name of a relative or loved one who served in the military or as a first responder. Each flag cost $30 to sponsor, with the money that is raised benefitting scholarships.
The display of the flags will remain in place from Nov. 2 – 30. Those who sponsored a flag can pick it up at the site of the display at 11 a.m. on the last day, or they can be picked up beginning the following Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield.
“We sold 103 flags last year and with the monies raised over the past two years we gave out $5,000 in camp scholarships to local youth,” said outgoing Kiwanis President Kellie Brown. “There is no financial requirement for these scholarships, only that a parent or grandparent has served.”
