‘Heartwarming': Annual ‘Healing Field' in Murfreesboro honors veterans who have passed away
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Among the countless Memorial Day events across Middle Tennessee, Murfreesboro concluded a weekend of remembrance at their 16th annual 'Healing Field.'
Organized by a local nonprofit, Freedom Trail Foundation of TN, 504 American flags were set-up this year. Of those, around 350 of them were dedicated to veterans lost in battle or those who served our country and have since passed away.
'I have two brothers who served in the service. Some brother-in-laws and close friends, so yes, this is very heartwarming. It's really something,' said Navy veteran David Korn.
There's a specific way to fly your US flag on Memorial Day: What to know
Korn's brothers did not die while in service, but he still got emotional talking about their sacrifices while in uniform. He brought his grandkids with him to honor the heroes we've lost.
'If you take any one person here and read their life story, it's heart wrenching. I think a lot of people don't realize that, you know, it's just 'oh wow, it's another day off for us!'' said Korn.
The Freedom Trail Foundation added nearly 100 flags to their display in 2025, while also adding a unique history lesson for their visitors.
'It's the history of the American flag, from the Grand Union all the way to the current day 50-star flag. As you go along the trail, there's a sign telling the story of each flag,' explained Event Chair Tracey Kennedy.
4 finally going home after WWII bomber crash left 11 dead and 'non-recoverable'
Kennedy called the field 'breathtaking;' a view she never gets tired of. As intended, it's also a weekend filled with emotional reflection.
'I've cried a few times this weekend. We have a lot of people come through and tell us the stories of their parents and grandparents, sometimes it's their sons and daughters,' said Kennedy. 'There are some out here that are Missing in Action (MIA), and those probably stand out to me the most; to know they never got to come home.'
⏩
Every person who pays to sponsor a flag is able to keep it. Kennedy said people typically frame and hang their dedicated flag inside their homes.
The money paid for each flag is ultimately pumped back into funding and growing the 3-day memorial service, according to Kennedy, plus the other work of their nonprofit.
Eventually, the goal is to grow the 'Healing Field' to 1,000 flags.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
On This Day, June 28: Biscayne National Park established in Florida
On this date in history: In 1778, the Continental Army under command of Gen. George Washington defeated the British at Monmouth, N.J. A pair of saddle pistols used by the Marquis de Lafayette during the battle fetched nearly $2 million at a 2002 auction. In 1838, Victoria was crowned queen of England. She would rule for 63 years, 7 months. In 1914, Archduke Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, an act considered to have ignited World War I. In 1919, World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 1969, the clientele of a New York City gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, rioted after it was raided by police. The event is considered the start of the gay liberation movement. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of public funds for parochial schools was unconstitutional. In 1972, President Richard Nixon announced that no more draftees would be sent to Vietnam unless they volunteered for service in the Asian nation. In 1980, Biscayne National Park, previously a national monument, was established by an act of Congress. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and offshore barrier reefs in South Florida. In 1997, Mike Tyson bit off a piece of one of heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield's ears during a title fight in Las Vegas. In 2007, the American bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list. Officials of the Interior Department said the eagle, which had been declared endangered in 1967, was flourishing and no longer imperiled. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI In 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, rousted out of bed in the middle of the night by soldiers, was forced from office and into exile in Costa Rica in the culmination of a bitter power struggle over proposed constitutional changes. He was in exile for more than a year. In 2011, the International Monetary Fund's executive board named Christine Lagarde chairwoman, the first woman to lead the organization. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the new healthcare law known as the Affordable Care Act. In 2016, militants opened fire and set off explosions at Turkey's Ataturk Airport, killing 45 people and leaving more than 230 injured. Turkish officials blamed the Islamic State. In 2018, five people -- four journalists and a sales assistant -- died after a gunman opened fire at the Annapolis, Md., office of the Capital Gazette newspaper. In 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking scheme. In 2023, South Korea scrapped its traditional age-counting system, instantly reducing the age of citizens by one or two years in a move to align with international standards and reduce clerical headaches. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that enforcement of camping regulation laws against homeless people does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment banned by the Eighth Amendment.
The Onion
14 hours ago
- The Onion
Pros And Cons Of Banning Fireworks
Millions of Americans will celebrate Independence Day with fireworks this year, though the legality of the explosives varies throughout the country. The Onion examines the pros and cons of banning fireworks. Kites can take their rightful place as sovereigns of the sky Lose most effective way to quickly raze 4,000 acres of forestland Medical fireworks still available through firework dispensaries No reason to visit Indiana anymore Mom's new boyfriend will instead have to prove himself by eating really spicy pepper No way to find out which dogs would abandon you in a shootout Far fewer loose fingers for birds to incorporate into nest Billy's Fireworks & Stuff can only sell so many vapes No other reason to look up at the sky in wonder Yet another American tradition discarded for nothing more than safety, environmental hazards, animal welfare, and good taste
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
More Deaths in Peru: Bodies of National Geographic Photographer, Two Others Found
BY MARY ANDINO With an elevation of over 6,000m and treacherous routes to the summit, Mt. Artesonraju in the Peruvian Andes rarely sees ascents. The tragic deaths this month of an experienced climbing party show why it remains such a dangerous mountain. Several weeks after their initial disappearance, three climbers — including National Geographic photographer Edson Vandeira — were found dead on the Peruvian mountain this week. Vandeira, 36, a Brazilian native and resident of Peru, set out for the summit on May 29 with Efraín Pretel Alonzo, 34, and Jesus Manuel Picon Huerta, 31, two Peruvian mountaineers. When they did not return on June 1 as planned, volunteers began a rescue operation using drones and helicopters. After 10 days with no results, the search ended, and on June 22, the Association of Mountain Guides of Peru confirmed that they had found the climbers' bodies using drone reconnaissance. The exact timeline of events is not clear, but large falling blocks of ice likely caused the accident. The mountain has been the site of other accidents, including in 2006, when three American climbers died after falling into a crevasse. In 2018, three mountaineers perished from an avalanche. Conditions can change quickly on the mountain, and the risk of avalanches is high. With 17 years of alpine experience under his belt, Vandeira was a skilled mountaineer, The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported. In fact, Vandeira was attempting to summit Mt. Artesonraju as part of his training to become a certified mountain guide. National Geographic has featured Vandeira's photography, including this feature story on jaguars in Brazil. His work was also featured in the History Channel's Andes Extremo, a series following ascents of six of the Andes' highest peaks. Vandeira's photography ranged from capturing the peaks of Everest to showcasing voluntary veterinarians attempting to help wildlife in Brazil during wildfires. Other major projects included documenting Brazil's science program in Antarctica. Vandeira lived in Minnesota for several years, and there was an outpouring of support and grief in the local climbing community following the tragic news. 'Beyond being an extraordinarily skilled mountaineer and climber, he is an incredible human: Kind, passionate, and inspiring,' Sayyed Saif Alnabi wrote in the Minnesota Climbers Facebook group. Vandeira's former wife, Natalia Mossman Koch, launched a GoFundMe to pay for recovery efforts and help Vandeira's family travel to Peru. As of yesterday afternoon, the fundraiser had only reached about $3,500 of its $7,000 goal. Check out Vandeira's photography portfolio on his website. Vandeira's family and the Association of Mountain Guides of Peru did not respond to requests for comment. This story first appeared on GearJunkie.
