The display of patriotism this weekend at Falls Township Community Park in stunning but the reason is solemn.
The 32nd annual Donald W. Jones Flag Memorial opened Friday and runs through Sunday afternoon. This year, the display features 70,000 flags, one for every American soldier killed in the Vietnam War and the conflicts in the Middle East. An addition this year is 280 flags to recognize the war dogs killed in the Vietnam conflict.
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Donnie Jones, who is the son of the flag tribute’s namesake, said the public is welcome to visit the flag memorial this weekend. He explained that Saturday will feature live music. On Sunday, veterans will kick off a motorcycle ride from the Bristol Township Municipal Building on Bath Road and ride shortly after noon to the memorial where speakers will address attendees.
David Pearl, who is one of the organizers, said the guest speaker Sunday is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He added that the remains of 12 servicemen killed in action and recovered over the past year will be repatriated starting at 1 p.m.
One of the missions of the three-day flag tribute is to educate younger generations about the sacrifices service men and women have made, according to Pearl and Jones.
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“Our mission is to continuously remember all those who went before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Pearl, an Air Force veteran who served during the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 65,000 thousand flags that make up the bulk of the tribute were staked in the ground in the same design as the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. Volunteers from the Delaware Valley Vietnam Veterans and the community came out Friday afternoon to painstakingly put each flag in the grassy field.
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The tribute coincides with Flag Day, which will be celebrated next Wednesday.
