The 5th annual Crossville Field of Honor returning to Garrison Park to raise money for Cumberland County veterans’ organizations.
The display features 700 American flags flying in formation near downtown Crossville. Lake Tansi Exchange Club Event Organizer and Chairman of the 2026 Crossville Field of Honor Tim Witherite said the project is a core national initiative to demonstrate appreciation for local heroes and first responders.
“This is how we show our appreciation to our local veterans,” Witherite said. “We have these flags available. People buy them. We attach a little plaque to them with the name and their service, where they served and what branch. And at the end of the event, they can keep the flag if they so desire.”
Individual flags are available for $40. Local business sponsorships range from $275 to $5,000 and include advertising space directly at the park.
“That’s one of my favorite parts of the whole thing is taking the veterans out,” Witherite said. “I’ve had World War II veterans and Korean veterans. They’re up in years, but they’re there, and the look on their face when they see that flag means so much to them.”
All proceeds from the display remain in the community. Local organizations can submit request forms for the funds, which the club will award in January based on specific needs.
“It’s overwhelming at times,” Witherite said. “It’s awesome. People come up and they just can’t believe it. It’s just a sight to see, though. Especially if there’s a good breeze going, they’re all flying. It’s a beautiful sight. It really is.”
The club also provides monetary awards to youth groups like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Young Marines who assist with operations. Volunteers are needed to help assemble the display on October 30 and assist elderly visitors using golf carts.
The project relies heavily on community help to handle field logistics and greet guests.
“It is an all-hands-on-deck type of thing for our club,” Witherite said. “We could always use more volunteers. They can come and help us anytime during that week if they want to volunteer. We have a welcome tent where we sell the flags and assist people. We need people who could assist taking the veterans out. We have a lot of veterans that visit us, of course. And some of them are elderly, and we have golf carts there, and we’ll take them out to show them their flag.”
Residents interested in helping assemble the field on October 30, taking down the display on November 7, or assisting visitors can contact Witherite directly at 239-290-6839.
Online flag sales conclude this Friday, though residents can still purchase dedications in person throughout the week. The display officially opens on October 31 and runs through November 7.