Throughout Veterans Day weekend, a thousand American flags will cover Victory Field at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage as a part of a Field of Honor® display paying tribute to all the men and women who have served or are now serving in the U.S. military.
The event will be The Hermitage’s inaugural Field of Honor® organized in conjunction with the Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage and the Colonial Flag Foundation.
“Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is the first presidential site to hold a Field of Honor, and we look forward to honoring veterans and bringing a flag display to the home of a former U.S. military general and president,” said Sawn Swenson, national director of the Colonial Flag Foundation.
Brigadier General Donald L. Johnson, assistant adjutant general of the Air Tennessee National Guard, will be the opening ceremony’s keynote speaker. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Hermitage President and CEO Howard Kittell, and National Exchange Club President-elect and Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage member Phil Howard will all give remarks. Jeff Cole, pastor of Generation Church and master sergeant in the United States Air Force, will give the invocation and benediction.
Donelson Christian Academy student Lilyann Miller will sing the national anthem, and Webelo Scout Brendan Simmons will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
“We are honored to host this amazing display of American flags and invite everyone to come see the grounds and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in our nation’s military,” Kittell said.
The display will be free to the public, and flags may be sponsored for $30. After the closing ceremony, sponsors will be able to take their flags to their homes or businesses to fly proudly.
All proceeds will go toward child abuse prevention efforts and other Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage projects benefiting the community and country. For more information on sponsorship levels, visit thehermitage.com or healingfield.org.
Thanks to event sponsors, including President Jackson sponsor Smyrna Ready Mix, General Jackson sponsors Charter Construction Company and Pinnacle Bank, and “Star Spangled Banner” sponsors Long Foundation Drilling Co. and Cable-N-More.
Details on the opening and closing ceremonies are below:
Where: Victory Field at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
What: Opening Ceremony
When: Friday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m.
What: Closing Ceremony
When: Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m.
About Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President is one of the largest and most visited presidential homes in the United States. Opened as a museum in 1889, it is one of the nation’s oldest presidential sites, drawing more than 192,000 visitors each year. Located 12 miles northeast of downtown Nashville, The Hermitage is a 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark with 27 restored buildings, 12 dating to Jackson’s ownership, including his 1836 mansion and tomb, slave cabins, garden, and the church he had constructed for his beloved wife, Rachel. In the Andrew Jackson Visitor Center, guests can experience Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm, a new interactive exhibit about the life and profound impact of our seventh president on the history of the United States. Admission is free for active duty military and half-price for veterans. For more information, visit www.thehermitage.com.
About the Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage
The Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage is a group of men and women who work together to better the community through four programs of service: Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities and Child Abuse Prevention. The Exchange Club promotes pride in the country, respect for the flag and appreciation of our freedoms. Exchange Clubs across the country spend countless hours and dollars improving their communities each year. In fact, many of the projects within the Program of Service have a common goal of serving and benefiting communities. Through college scholarships, mentoring and guidance, and service recognition, Exchange is making a difference to America’s youngest generations. Exchange provides a variety of public awareness materials designed to help inform and increase awareness of child abuse and how it can be prevented, along with supporting its local center, The Family Center.