NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — More than 500 flags are now in place at the Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain. For the first time, the Iwo Jima Memorial Foundation has installed a Field of Flags; the project is meant to raise awareness about the Memorial, raise funds for the upkeep of the property, and honor those veterans and other loved ones in the community.
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Elaine Schieffer, the secretary of the Iwo Jima Historical Memorial Foundation said at $10 per flag, it will help fund the site for their “eternal flame” and to help the décor.
As for what the new project looks like, Schieffer said, “This is absolutely beautiful, and it is such a beautiful memorial to do this at.”
Placing the two-foot-high flags in perfectly straight rows were freshman students from Vinal Tech High School in Middletown. The students are part of a criminal justice class at the high school.
Joe Linskey, a retired Berlin police sergeant, and now teacher at Vinal Tech, said of his students, “The reason we are here is to expose the kids to a lot of the different things that the veterans have done and what it means to them and what it means to us now.”
Olivia Fullerton, a Vinal Tech freshman who helped put dozens of flags on display, said, “It’s good that we get to honor these veterans in this way; it’s really a memorable moment for everyone here.”
Glancing out at the 500-plus flags, Schieffer added, “Patriotism is alive here today.”
The Field of Flags will be up through May 31. To learn more about the Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain click here.
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Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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