The brave men and women of our Armed Forces will again be honored during the "All Era Veterans Healing Field of the Quad-Cities," taking place Aug. 27-29, at the Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 1022 E 39th Street in Davenport.
Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, with closing ceremonies beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29. This year's opening ceremony speakers will include <a href="http://www.aschq.army.mil/supportingdocs/MG Fontaine Bio.pdf" target="_blank">Maj. Gen. Yves Fontaine</a>, Commanding General, Army Sustainment Command; and <a href="http://www.saluteheroes.org/b-j-jackson.html" target="_blank">Robert "B.J." Jackson</a>(double amputee - Operation Iraqi Freedom). The closing ceremony will feature <a href="http://www.aschq.army.mil/supportingdocs/CSMBlakeBio.pdf" target="_blank">Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Blake</a>, Command Sergeant Major, Army Sustainment Command. Chaplain Maj. Charles Rizer, Jr., Army Sustainment Command, will be doing the invocation and benediction.
There will be an "open mic" from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28 (with a break from 1-2:30 p.m. for the free concert by <a href="http://www.veteransmusicministry.com/" target="_blank">Monica Harvey with Veterans Music Ministries</a>). "People can use the open mic to speak freely regarding the military or our fallen troops," said David Jensen, chairman, 2010 AEVHFQC. "Staff will be present to assure any use of the open mic is honorable to the fallen and the military, and is not political in nature."
More than 100 flags, which once draped the caskets of other veterans, will be displayed with the names of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers will be present to assist in locating the names of these fallen troops. Along with their names, there will be flags paying respects for those who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam Nam and other conflicts.
"Guest speakers and participants representing present military, past military, wounded warriors, local veteran support organizations, etc., will offer remarkable insight into the spirit of this event during opening and closing ceremonies," said Eric Swanson, former Chairman AEVHFQC. "As the Healing Field is open continuously from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, there is ample time to tour the site and visit with veterans and others on hand or quietly reflect."
Since its inception in Summer 2004, one year after the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Healing Field annual event has grown exponentially.
"The first few years were dedicated to those lost in Iraq securing the freedoms of the Iraqi people, those seeking out Al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, and all first responders and civilians lost on 9/11," said Swanson. "Since the 2008 event, veterans from all eras have been included. Several changes also came about in 2008 when several local-support organizations banded together as the 'All Era Veterans Healing Field of the Quad Cities' to ensure that all who have fallen in defense of this great nation will never be forgotten."
For more information refer to the website - <a href="http://quadcitieshealingField.webs.com/" target="_blank">http://quadcitieshealingField.webs.com/</a> or contact David Jensen (309) 230-6138.
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