The colors fly in Wantagh

Fifty flags are flying outside the Wantagh Museum as part of the community’s first Field of Honor.

The American flags, in five rows of 10 and spaced five feet apart, were set up over Memorial Day weekend by numerous volunteers, including representatives of community organizations, Scouts and the high school Key Club. The project was organized by the Wantagh 6-12 Association as a fundraiser, with support from the Wantagh Preservation Society and the Kiwanis Club.

It was coordinated by 6-12 members Julie Argueta and Vivian Fitzgerald as a way to honor both living and dead servicemen and women.

The Friday before Memorial Day, volunteers went to the site on Wantagh Avenue and marked the ground. The following day, stakes were put in, and poles with flags attached were added that Sunday. Fitzgerald said that the second and fourth rows were offset to make the flags stand out better.

Fitzgerald said they accomplished the goal of having the Field of Honor completed by Memorial Day, so the flags would be in place as the parade passed by on its way from Wantagh High School to the American Legion hall.

Local residents were able to buy ribbons which were attached to the flags in honor of someone who served in the armed forces. Fitzgerald bought five ribbons in recognition of her father-in-law, and husband’s grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as a neighbor and a friend who have both served in the military.

Tommy and Denise Laino, who have lived in Wantagh for 18 years, purchased two ribbons. One was for Tommy’s late grandfather, and the other for Denise’s grandfather, who is still alive. Both served in World War II.

“For me personally, and my wife, it was a chance to pay tribute to our grandparents,” Tommy said. “That was the greatest generation.”

Laino said that he and his wife found out about the Field of Honor from Preservation Society President Karen Chowske, as their daughters are friends. He said he went to the museum before the Memorial Day parade to look at the flags. “It was nice to look at,” he said. “It was very well done.”

Jean Fitzgerald, whose sister-in-law was one of the organizers, bought two ribbons. She wanted to honor her father, John McEvoy, who died last September and was in the Marines, and her brother, Steven McEvoy, who is retired from the Air Force. “I thought it was a really nice way to honor their service,” she said.

Fitzgerald, of Massapequa Park, was there the day the flags were installed and said it was nice to hear drivers honking in support as they passed by. She added that she hopes the Field of Honor will bring attention to the museum.

About 10 members of the Wantagh High School Key Club helped set up the flags. “It is very nice to be able to drive by the station and see all the flags waving in the wind,” club President Emily Fenter said. “This is something we will want to continue to be involved in in future years.”

Following the installation of the flags, a small ceremony was held on the museum grounds with the scouts and other volunteers. It included the playing of taps and “God Bless America.”

“I’m glad that we were able to do it,” Vivian Fitzgerald said. “We’re going to do it every year. I think it looks great.”