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Photo courtesy of Sarah Glassburn
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Family history of military service draws Westerville resident and daughter to Memorial Day display
Every year, Sarah Glassburn and her daughter Juliana, 4, celebrate Memorial Day in the same way.
They’ve been going to Westerville’s Field of Heroes event since 2012, when Glassburn accidentally stumbled upon the beautiful display of 3,000 flags and was immediately drawn to it.
The event honors personal heroes of all kinds, and heroism – especially military – seems to run in Glassburn’s family. Her great-grandmother was a Daughter of the Revolutionary War, her great-grandfather fought in World War II, her grandfather and two uncles served in the Air Force and another grandfather fought in the Vietnam War. Her own father, Col. Mark Hertel, was in the Army Reserves and retired in 2008. Outside of her family, she has known several other service men and women, including her neighbor’s son, who recently returned home from his second tour.
Fortunately, all of Glassburn’s loved ones who have fought for our country throughout the generations returned home, but the Field of Heroes also honors the memory of those who were not so lucky. To Glassburn, the Field of Heroes is “a tangible way for people to actually connect to the fact that men and women are risking their lives for our freedom and some do not come home,” she says
This year, she and Juliana colored pictures for soldiers and discussed the soldiers’ roles and importance.
“My hope is that Juliana will have an engrained respect for our country and our freedoms,” she says. “I want her to thank anyone that she sees in uniform for their service and sacrifice.”
Christina Szuch is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
