Bill Stuart stands among the Field of Flags awaiting the placement of a flag for Chief Petty Officer Nicholas H. Null.

The Field of Flags, the traveling memorial to each American casualty in Iraq and Afghanistan, was dedicated at a ceremony Saturday at the New Martinsville United Methodist Church. The display of 6,198 flags on the hillside along state Route 2 in New Martinsville will be in place through Sept. 4.

One of the organizers, Rae Stuart, said she was concerned that the program which included a list of 36 fallen West Virginia soldiers would not include the latest Mountaineer tragedy, Chief Petty Officer Nicholas H. Null of Washington, W.Va. He was one of the 30 U.S. soldiers killed in a recent helicopter crash in Afghanistan. But she was reminded, “This is a living memorial–one that’s always changing.” Null was given special recognition when New Martinsville Mayor Lucille Blum held his flag at the podium and carried it to the memorial to be added to the flags of the fallen.

Chaplain (COL) Bruce Reed of the West Virginia National Guard reminded those at the service that each flag represents a face, a family member, a friend. Two were members of his brigade. “They were my friends. . . the faces I still remember,” said Reed.

However, he said one face he never saw stands out in his thoughts of the casualties from the past nine years. He and a major knocked at the door to deliver the grim news to a soldier’s listed next of kin–a 10-year-old boy. He never saw that face as the boy remained hidden under a blanket on his couch when the news was delivered.

“The next time you see Old Glory,” said Reed. “Remember it’s not just a symbol of the nation. When you see the flag, know the cost of what’s provided it.”

Chaplain (COL) Bruce Reed, West Virginia National Guard

The public is cordially invited to visit the Field of Flags to pay their respects to the fallen and pray for those still fighting for the country. The tent on the ridge above the flags will be manned 24-hour-a-day until the installment moves to its next location. This is the first time it has visited West Virginia.

Bagpiper Dave Morgan