The Healing Field was an effort of the Patriot Guard Riders at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, August 4-13, 2006, in South Dakota.
The Healing Field Flag Memorial honored 2,911 of our fallen heroes. Each of the flags had a ribbon and a card attached. Each card with a name of someone who died in Iraq and Afghanistan in the war on terrorism. By the end of the rally, more had been added.
The following account was written by a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, shared with his permission:
Wow, home at last, 9 days at the Buffalo Chip (campground), when we arrived it was nothing but a dirt field and had no feeling, the first day started with the lay out and the placement of the rebar and the unloading of the truck.
Day 2, started with 2 PGR members form Minnesota at 7 am starting to drive rebar, I don’t remember your names but thank you my brother’s for all your hard work.
Many other people working on assembly of 1800 flags, and I thank you also.
The end of day 2 we had about 2000 flags standing and the power of the Healing Field was getting stronger. As I place a flag on the rebar and unrolled it, My only thought was that every time a flag was open a brother or sister soul was flying out and was free and at last and was resting in a better place.
Day 3 We got all the flags up and the power and the energy of the Healing Field was present.
Day 4 Saturday, we started with the name tags and the yellow ribbons on each and every flag, now the flags in the wind had a personality and a spirit and power was stronger then before.
Day 5 Sunday, all 2911 flags we named and the Healing Field was alive and the wind through the flags were like sounds of sprits talking and every one was telling a story, and all a person had to do is listen, one story I heard was, where is our brother Matt Maupin for his flag was the POW- MIA flag in the field .
Day 6 Monday, A small group of PGR rider’s went to the Black Hills National Cemetery to pay our respects for All our fallen hero’s. We were also advised of a short notice mission on Tuesday for a fallen WWII hero.
Day 7 Tuesday, We staged at the Buffalo Chip at the PGR booth and rode to the Black Hills National cemetery and met up with S.D. state captain Jeff Anderson.
The Service was for WWII vet James Bousa who passed on 31 July 2006, he was 91.
After the service was over the funeral home director came to us and asked if we could do a mission for a WWII vet that had no family and was going to be laid to rest alone, so you know we would not allow that to happen. So we stayed and gave honor to our fallen hero, his casket flag was placed at the Healing Field so he would not be forgotten.
Matt & Chas played Taps at the services, great job, and Thanks.
Tuesday was a very long day at 1600 hrs the opening ceremonies started and the DOD was there Major General Pete Cook to dedicated and Honor and pay respects for all our fallen heroes.
Day 8 Wednesday, a very quite day, a late ride to Mt. Rushmore for closing ceremonies
Day 9 Thursday, a PGR ride to Mt. Rushmore, and nice way to spend a day.
For now that I’m back home and next year will come again I think about the Healing Field that started out as any other field, now it has and will be forever hallowed ground, and the Flag field will live in my mind and the emotions will be in my heart, where 2916 fallen heroes were together and all there voices were heard by all, I hope we never have another mission and may all our brothers and sister rest in peace.
Wayne (grumpy) H.
Lead R/C Colorado
Anyone wishing may still sponsor a flag. $25 sponsors the cost of one of the flags, along with a donation to the Patriot Guard Fallen Warrior Scholarship Fund. You may designate what you would like done with the flag. Your options are have it sent to you, with or without a pole (extra charge applies), or donated to Patriot Guard Riders national or your state for use on missions. I sponsored one which I will personally use on missions. Click here.
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