Vouchers for Veterans, in collaboration with the City of Rochester, are proud to announce they will once again put heroism on display this Memorial Day Weekend at the Rochester Common.

The display features 550 full-size American flags that will be on display around and within the 1/3-mile oval park. The Field of Honor is free to the public and will open in the morning on Saturday, May 25, 2024, and will remain in place until dismantling early Tuesday morning, May 28, 2024. Each night at 7:00 pm, a bugler will play taps and a bagpiper will walk among the field of flags to commemorate the memory of members of all branches of the armed forces.

Like last year, 550 flags will be erected, with over 100 of them being dedicated by local businesses to specifically honor NH and ME Veterans who died while in service. The multi-day event expects to draw thousands of visitors who will come to pay their respects to the men and women who have served our country, many making the ultimate sacrifice.

Volunteers will be on-site throughout the weekend between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm to help visitors locate their flags. Many Veterans and active duty members will show their pride in serving their country by purchasing one for themselves to stand guard over those who have passed before them.

Each flag is identified with a laminated card containing the name, branch, and rank of the Veteran being honored. Those who died in action will be denoted with a black cross, and each card is attached to the flagpole with a yellow silk ribbon.

On Monday, May 27, the Rochester Memorial Day Parade will end at the Rochester Common at approximately 11:00 am, and a Memorial Day Ceremony will take place immediately after. The Rochester Veterans Council, along with the American Legion Post 7, will open the ceremony with the presentation of colors followed by the laying of the wreaths for each branch of the military. Mayor Paul Callaghan will welcome all in attendance and provide opening remarks. The keynote speaker will be Ret. Brig. General Don Bolduc. For those who need to sit, please bring a chair to the ceremony.

The Recreation Department would like to remind park patrons that during the Field of Honor, please avoid running and playing in the middle of the flag display. Additionally, to ensure that community members of all ages and abilities can hear and participate in the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27, the Recreation Department will be closing the Common Playground from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, or when the ceremony is finished. For an alternative outdoor play space, Recreation staff suggests utilizing the Hanson Pines playground near Spaulding High School.

Jeanne Grover, Founder of Vouchers for Veterans, is excited to bring this event back for a fourth year, stating, “Last year’s event was very emotional for many visitors. I witnessed several people wiping away tears as they strolled among the field of flags, reading the names on each card. We are so grateful to the City of Rochester for partnering with us so that this display may be brought back once again to the community.”

To learn more about Vouchers for Veterans, visit www.vouchersforveterans.org.