Georgetown's Field of Honor opens Saturday at San Gabriel Park with 2,026 American flags arranged to spell out “250,” a tribute stretching across 10 acres of the 12-acre field and marking three milestones rolled into one nine-day event: the display's own 10th anniversary, the United States' 250th birthday and 25 years since the September 11 attacks. The free, round-the-clock event runs through Nov. 15.
According to CBS Austin, Dr. Jeanne Cox said the year is historic because the event is folding three separate milestones into a single celebration, with Cox noting that 2,026 flags would be displayed in the shape of 250. Surveyors helped organizers plan the flag placement across the sprawling field, a level of precision that turns an open park into a geometric tribute visible from above. The Rotary Club of Georgetown Foundation describes the gathering as an all-volunteer, nine-day event, according to The Georgetown Texas Field of Honor.
A 9/11 Exhibit Led by Firefighters Who Were There
This year's display adds a new wrinkle: a mobile exhibit from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation dedicated to the September 11 attacks. CBS Austin reports the exhibit expands to 1,300 square feet once set up, while the Tunnel to Towers Foundation itself describes an 83-foot tractor-trailer that transforms into a 1,100-square-foot exhibit — accounts that differ on the exact footprint but agree on the exhibit's scope and purpose.
What both sources confirm is who leads the tours. Interactive guided walkthroughs are carried out by FDNY firefighters who provide firsthand accounts of the day and its aftermath, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation notes. It is a detail that gives the exhibit a weight beyond static displays — the people narrating the history lived through it.
Flags, Dedications and Who Benefits
Visitors can buy flags either at the field or online and personalize them with tags recognizing a military member, first responder or loved one, per CBS Austin's reporting. Families can also include photographs, military ranks and service information with their dedications, and Dr. Christie Parker Wheeler said families can bring photographs to recognize loved ones. The Georgetown Texas Field of Honor sets this year's donation at $45 per flag, with flags purchased in prior years that remain in good condition eligible for reposting at $25 each.
Money raised through flag sales does not just decorate the park — it funds grants. The organization awards proceeds to nonprofits addressing PTSD, suicide prevention, family care and other critical needs, according to the same nonprofit's materials. This year's beneficiaries include a local chapter of Blue Star Mothers supporting military families, the National Mounted Warfare Foundation honoring the history of mounted soldiers, and Hats Off for Veterans, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities for veterans, CBS Austin reports.
Hours, Tours and How to Help
The schedule shifts depending on the day. Weekday student field trips run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by public tours from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. During the opening weekend, tours are open to everyone from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., giving families and visitors without school-day availability a chance to walk the field.
Organizers say volunteers are still needed throughout the week, and community members can sign up through the event website. Visitors can also purchase commemorative merchandise to support the event. The Field of Honor is sponsored by Sport Clips, Hewlett Automotive Group, Georgetown Rotary Club, D&L Printing, Roberts Printing Co. and Michael Cox Graphic Design Consultant.
The event has grown steadily since launching a decade ago. Last year's Field of Honor featured roughly 2,000 flags and opened with a Parade of Colors and a ceremony marking the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, with retired Navy Captain Dave Carey delivering the keynote address, according to the Wilco Sun. That 2025 display ran at San Gabriel Park through Nov. 16, laying the groundwork for this year's expanded, milestone-laden edition.
