GCHS Installs Second Field Of Flags To Honor Local Heroes

GARDEN CITY, NY — As part of a joint effort of the Students Helping Students organization, staff and community members, Garden City High School unveiled its second annual Field of Flags on Nov. 15. Spearheaded by the club’s president, senior Caterina Kephart, the initiative brought hundreds of American Flags to the grounds outside the building at the corner of Rockaway Avenue and Merillon Avenue as a tribute to first responders, and yielded a $3,940 donation to the William Bradford Turner Legion Auxiliary.

A small ceremony celebrated the field’s kickoff just after Veterans Day, and the flags will fly until Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7. School administrators, staff and members of the Garden City Fire Department and Police Department, American Auxiliary Legion and Students Helping Students organization gathered to celebrate the Field of Flags and acknowledge those involved. Grayson Gardi sang the National Anthem and Alessandro Ehrig and Tyler Glenn played “Taps.”

Kephart and Guidance Counselor/Students Helping Students adviser Kate Higgins described the project’s significance and extended special thanks to the custodial staff for assembling all the flags. She noted that many similar displays she has seen were limited to veterans and deployed military members, and she felt that it was imperative to also recognize all first responders and medical personnel. Members of the community provided donations in exchange for flag dedications to military servicemen and servicewomen, medical first responders, police officers and firefighters. A ribbon was affixed to each flag acknowledging its honoree.

“It’s easy to forget that while we go to work, or school or practice, that somewhere in that same moment somewhere else, someone is putting their life on the line to protect us and our rights,” Kephart said. “I believe it is our job as Americans to make sure that all those who go above and beyond every day for the people of their country are appreciated and know that we stand behind them, always.”

Kephart introduced the idea last year and carried it out successfully, thanks to the support of Guidance Counselor Karen Whiston, members of Students Helping Students and local businesses that donated flag supplies. The efforts were continued this year with supervision from Higgins. The district hopes to make this a recurring charitable event that will pay homage to even more people in future years.