Volunteers are at the War Memorial Center all week to create the
annual Field of Flags in Milwaukee’s Veterans Park. The 5th annual Memorial Day tribute has been
building up to this year when 27,316 American flags will be displayed in a glorious Field of Flags
north of the War Memorial Center building. Each flag represents a Wisconsinite who paid the ultimate
price for freedom in service to our nation from the Civil War until today. This year’s Field of Flags will
almost double in size from last year, when 15,015 flags were displayed representing the Wisconsin
veterans who have been killed in action since World War I.
“This Field of Flags will broadcast a powerful and visible reminder every Memorial Day of the
burden of war carried by the men and women who wear the uniform. Behind each flag is a fallen
hero from Wisconsin and the thousands of families and loved ones who carry on their legacy,” said
Dan Buttery, President and CEO of the War Memorial Center. “I was inspired to bring this concept to
Milwaukee after seeing a Field of Flags in Boston displayed for Memorial Day.”
Volunteers are welcome to help assemble the Field of Flags. Two-hour shifts are still available from
8am to 2pm through Thursday, May 23. The final flags will be placed during a public ceremony on
Friday, May 24 at 11am. The public is invited to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial north of the War
Memorial Center for a 30-minute ceremony that begins with a World War II era plane flyover. Veterans,
gold star families, and other dignitaries will speak at the ceremony and the final flags will be placed to
complete the 27,316 flag field.
The Field of Flags will remain in place for one week until May 30. The public is invited to come to the
lakefront over Memorial Day weekend to pay their respects to the men and women from Wisconsin
who made the ultimate sacrifice. Field of Flags is made possible with support from Erie Insurance.
What: 5th Annual Memorial Day Field of Flags Opening Ceremony
When: Friday, May 24 at 11am
Where: War Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202 (ceremony
stage at Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Veterans Park)
After the Field of Flags opening ceremony, the public is also invited to attend the premier of a special
edition of Discover Wisconsin featuring the War Memorial Center. The episode titled “The War
Memorial Center — A Living Memorial” will be shown in Memorial Hall, on the third level of the
War Memorial Center at 12pm. The episode is sponsored by The Weber Group.
CONTACT: Dan Buttery, War Memorial Center President/CEO
Phone: (414) 273-5533
Email: DButtery@WarMemorialCenter.org
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