Stoneham Field Of Honor Opens For Third Year

STONEHAM, MA — Stoneham’s Field of Honor flag display opened on the grounds of Stoneham Central Middle School on Friday, marking another year of observances in honor of service members, military veterans and first responders, organizers recently announced.

The display will now remain set up and fully staffed 24 hours a day through Saturday, with daily Taps playings at 5 p.m.

The Field of Honor this year features more than 400 large American flags filling the middle school lawn. The field initiative in Stoneham dates back to 2020, when the Stoneham Memorial/Veterans Day Committee added the Field of Honor during the first year of local COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

The larger national Field of Honor previously launched in 2002 as a way to memorialize individuals lost in the September 11th Attacks, as noted in a history on the Stoneham Field of Honor website.

The Field of Honor gives community members options to pay to dedicate a flag. Proceeds then go to various charities and funds supporting veterans and veterans suicide prevention.

The program has backing from a number of community sponsors.

The Field of Honor in Stoneham is, likewise, on display as part of planned Veterans Week observances this week around Veterans Day on Friday.

Upcoming events include a flag retirement ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Field of Honor.

Veterans Day ceremonies will then move forward on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Stoneham Town Hall before Stoneham’s planned Veterans 5k/walk beginning at 11:30 a.m., also at Town Hall.

Veterans Week programming will wind down on Saturday with a closing ceremony at 12 p.m. at the Field of Honor.