9-11 Healing Field

The Tempe Exchange club and the City of Tempe are proud to host for the 8^th time, the Never Forget September 11^th – Healing Field.  This event takes place at the Tempe Town Lake in downtown Tempe.  The Tempe Healing field is the largest and the longest running memorial of its kind.

They post one flag for every person that perished in the 9-11 terrorist attack.  The colonial flag foundation created this awesome visual to help us understand and comprehend the extent of human lives lost caused by the attacks.  In addition to posting the flag the volunteers also attach a card with a short biography, name, and age.

As quoted from the Healing Fields website:

“It began as a simple way for one person to visualize and comprehend the sheer enormity of human loss that occurred in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. But, as hundreds of volunteers gathered to help, it soon became evident that something much more was emerging. It became a personal gesture of support, a tangible expression of mourning, and a very real healing experience.”

I have taken my kids for many years to the Healing Field and it is very moving, somber, emotion filled time for us.  It is one thing to hear that 3,000 people died during the terrorist attack and another to see something tangible depicting the 3,000 people.  I can’t believe it has been 10 years since the attacks.  I like many of you who will read this, remember exactly where I was when I saw and heard the news of the attacks.  If you have not made it down to the Town Lake to see and experience the Healing Field you are missing out.  If you have been, go again.  Be prepared to spend some time there.