Flags fly on ‘Field of Honor’

The students and staff at Floyd B. Watson Elementary School decided to honor local veterans by starting a new tradition, which will extend beyond Veterans Day for the entire month of November.

In an effort to raise money for the National Military Family Association, members of the school faculty and parents purchased 89 American flags, which are now on display in front of the building, at the corner of Lakeview and North Centre avenues. Parents of faculty members who served in the military and other local veterans in the community were invited to the school on Monday morning for a ceremony to commemorate the “Field of Honor.”

Principal Jennifer Pascarella said that the idea was inspired by similar projects at other Long Island schools, including the Bellmore-Merrick High School District, which her children attend.

“I thought it was just beautiful,” Pascarella said of the display at her children’s school. “I was driving by it every single day and it was just this amazing sight. It was something that I always knew that, when I had my own building to run, would be something that I would want to replicate.”

Watson, she said, has always celebrated Veterans Day with classroom activities that focused on the importance of the military and those who fought overseas to protect the country.

“But the day kind of comes and it goes,” Pascarella said. “I thought this was a really great reminder for the kids. Every day they should remember our freedom is not free.”

Instead of honoring veterans just one day of the year, the Field of Honor will remain in front of the school for the rest of November, as a reminder of their sacrifices. The flags will fly on the lawn through Dec. 3, when those who donated them will be able to take them home.

Thanks to the donations, the school was able to give the National Military Family Association a check for $1,730, a portion of which will help fund programs like Operation Purple Camp, a summer camp program for children of those serving in the military.

“I cannot tell you what this means to myself and families like mine,” Stephanie Cassidy, a representative of the NMFA, told students, faculty, parents, veterans, and local elected officials at Monday’s ceremony. “We always thank our veterans for their service, but did you realize that the families serve, too?”

Cassidy said that when military parents are deployed elsewhere, the work of organizations such as hers ensures that their children are safe and cared for.

Thanks to the Field of Honor program, the NMFA can help fund Operation Purple Camp and treat the kids of those in all uniformed services to a free week of summer camp. Many military families move frequently, and their children often struggle to build lasting friendships. The camp program helps compensate for this by providing an opportunity for kids to connect with other military children like them.

“I want to thank you all for your generous donation,” Cassidy said. “… These flags — they stand tall and true, just like our veterans and just like all of you today. Thank you so much. We’re very grateful.”

Since it was founded in 2004, Operation Purple Camp has grown to serve nearly 67,000 military children across the country. To learn more about the program, and the other ways in which the NMFA helps veterans and their families, go to MilitaryFamily.org.