‘Patriot’s Field of Flags’ going up this weekend

ALBANY — Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks, veterans organizations in the Albany area will be hosting the 14th annual “Patriot’s Field of Flags” beginning this weekend and continuing through the 9/11 anniversary.

The event is commemorated with hundreds of American flags erected in a field outside the Albany Mall.

“The Patriot’s Field of Flags is a program to remember and memorialize the men and women who have been involved in the War Against Terrorism, including all members of our nation’s military, firemen, policemen and other emergency response personnel,” said Marvin Mixon of American Legion Post 30.

The event began as the “Honor Field” and was later given its current name.

American Legion Post 30 is the event sponsor, and they put up the display with help from other organizations and individual volunteers. Other participating organizations include American Legion Post 182 in Leesburg, American Legion Post 335 in Sylvester, Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2785, American Legion Riders, Sons of American Legion and area Junior ROTC units.

Mixon said about 900 flags on 8-foot poles will be put up on Saturday morning in front of the mall and along the driveway around the mall. About 15o 3-foot high white crosses in an area in front of the mall will also be placed to represent men from Dougherty and Lee counties who lost their lives in military combat situations from World War I to present day.

“Any and all interested in helping are invited to be in front of the mall in the area of the fountains at 8 (a.m.) or shortly thereafter. It will take us about three hours to complete the fields,” Mixon said. “There is no charge to anyone whatsoever for any of the program. However, we will welcome donations because this weeklong event is costing quite a bit of money, and we desperately need assistance from the community to be able to continue.”

A memorial program will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 10. The guest speaker for the program will be retired Army Lt. Col. Brian Lassetter, senior instructor for Worth County High School JROTC, Mixon said.

The field of flags and crosses are expected to be dismantled the following Monday.

The Southwest Georgia Exchange Club hosted the event in 2002 in acknowledgement of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, after which area veterans organizations continued the memorial.