How did Healing Fields begin?

Every flag tells a story at the Annual Northern Arizona Healing Field display where thousands of U.S. flags are in a beautiful formation at the Prescott Valley Civic Center. This event will run from Friday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (Les Stukenberg/Courier file)

By The Daily Courier | DailyCourier | TheDailyCourier

Originally Published: September 5, 2018 11:03 a.m.

The first Healing Field event took place in 2003 in Sandy, Utah. Paul Swenson, president of Colonial Flag Foundation, planned the field as a way to visualize the magnitude of human loss from terrorist attacks that occurred Sept. 11, 2001.

The tremendous response and interest from across the country soon resulted in displays in hundreds of communities. Since then, Colonial Flag Foundation has developed standards, manuals and programs that add value to the project.

Healing Field and Field of Honor are trademarked names. Not only have the fields been used to honor victims of the 9/11 attack, some communities use the title and idea to bring awareness to other issues such as child abuse, veterans assistance organizations, and Boys and Girls Club.

Programs during Healing Field events may include tributes to the fallen, educational presentations, and fundraising activities.