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U.S. Army Ranger veteran First Sergeant Will Williams was a participant in the Parade of Colors during the Field of Honor opening ceremonies November 5, 2023.
Each year, the Georgetown Rotary Club presents the Field of Honor, a noteworthy local Veterans Day ceremony displaying approximately 1,200 3x5 American flags.
Individual flags are dedicated to living or deceased veterans for a donation. A new addition to the event in 2023, visitors brought laminated 5x7 photos of the person they were honoring for each flag purchased. A short story or information about the service person could also be added to the back of the laminated photo.
The Rotary Club, and their presenting sponsors, make the field display and associated ceremonies open to the public without admission fees. The Field of Honor is usually open the entire week of Veterans Day, with an opening ceremony on November 11. Rotarians and volunteers set up the flags the weekend before.
On Veterans Day, Rotarians, local officials and local distinguished veterans conduct ceremonies including patriotic readings, the ringing of the bell and a flyover by local pilots.
Although the event is usually held in San Gabriel Park, in 2023, the event was held in the field behind Georgetown ISD’s Hammerlun Center in Old Town.
“We’re really grateful to GISD for hosting us this year at the Hamelin Center for Leadership and Learning,” said Jeanne Cox, chair of the Field of Honor about the 2023 event. “We looked at about 12 different places where we might be able to host it or have it for this year only, and nothing else worked. This was the perfect, best location for us to do it this year.”
In 2023, there were two female speakers, Command Sergeant Michelle Thompson from the Texas National Guard and Rear Admiral Ret. Christina M. Alvarado. There was also an all female Color Guard, showcasing the women in the military.
“It sort of developed that way and we decided let’s run with it! We had not done that before, and it just sort of worked out that way,” Ms. Cox said.
A few weeks after Veterans Day each year, the Georgetown Rotary Club presents checks from the money raised through donations from the event, to local and regional organizations dedicated to serving veterans, first responders and their families.
WWII Bomber flyover honors military, veteran history
The Devil Dog Commemorative Air Force Squadron again participated in a flyover at the 2023 Field of Honor.
The Devil Dog Squadron is a volunteer organization with the Commemorative Air Force, which is dedicated to maintaining, flying and preserving the World War II B-25 bomber.
Even though this particular aircraft never saw warfare, pilot Valerie Scott said the history of the plane and what it means for honoring veterans is something that is important to her.
After their flyover season ends around Veterans Day, the plane is grounded for winter maintenance. During this time, the plane is kept in top condition so it can continue to work events and provide flights throughout the area.
The flight lasted around 30 minutes and flew over the Field of Honor and the Georgetown area. During the flight, once given the okay by the pilots, visitors and members of the crew were able to move around the cabin and view Georgetown from different parts of the plane.