Kiwanis 2022 Field of Honor Drone Video produced by the City of Seminole’s Citizen Emergency Response Team

Kiwanis 2021 Field of Honor drone video produced by Alex Koagel, Seminole Recreation Program Coordinator

Kiwanis 2022 Field of Honor Drone Video produced by the City of Seminole’s Citizen Emergency Response Team

Kiwanis 2021 Field of Honor drone video produced by Alex Koagel, Seminole Recreation Program Coordinator

The Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Seminole in partnership with the city of Seminole launched in 2015 its first “Field of Honor” in support of the city’s Red-White-Blue patriotic initiative. This was comprised of 24 sponsored American flags displayed during the entire month of November on the front lawn of Seminole’s city hall. In 2016 the Field of Honor (FOH) grew to an impressive display of 176 flags! Since the city hall’s front lawn can only accommodate 176 flags, the display expanded in 2017 to the adjacent post office property with a total of 213 flags. In 2018 the FOH grew once more to a spectacular display of 305 American flags!

Our greatest hurdle to growing the FOH was finding a lighting solution for the flags while they fly at night. In 2019 we were very pleased to have established a partnership with Duke Energy which resolved our lighting problem and allowed us to grow the display to 425 flags. Not only did Duke Energy provide a much-needed light pole and lights but also 24 volunteers to help us install and remove the flag display. Duke’s team of community service volunteers has continued to annually help with the display. In 2020 the FOH grew to 431 flags, and the growth continued in 2021 and 2022 with 481 and 504 flags, respectively. With this growth, more lighting was needed and Duke Energy provided another light pole and lights for the display. A new record was established in 2023 when 606 flags were installed! This was made possible by St. Petersburg College Seminole generously providing additional land space, and Duke Energy once again providing more lighting.

Field of Honor Coming Soon is set-up by the Kiwanis Breakfast Club!

Anyone is welcome to sponsor a single (or multiple) 3’x 5’ American flag for $35 each to which a colorful custom-made military-style streamer is attached. This streamer is printed with the name of the veteran to be honored, military service logo, years served, and the Kiwanis logo with the current FOH year. Each flag is mounted on an 8’ steel pole placed in precision rows, and the flags will fly from the first Saturday in November until the first Saturday in December. After the conclusion of the display in December each flag sponsor can pick up their streamer(s) to keep in memory of the veteran(s) they’ve honored.

The 2026 Field of Honor flags will be installed on Saturday, November 7th starting at 9 am in front of Seminole city hall, the adjacent post office and St Petersburg College Seminole (across the street). We welcome all who would like to volunteer to assist in installing the flags.

Brett and Leah get ready for the Flag Raising Event!

Several days after all the flags are installed, a one-hour Field of Honor ceremony attended by the public and many distinguished guests is held in the Council Chambers at Seminole City Hall. The 2025 ceremony included: American Legion Post 273 Color Guard; Evelyn Jenne’ singing the National Anthem; Seminole Mayor Leslie Waters; Col. Tony Clark, Chaplain (US Army, retired); Joe Dobrinski, Florida Kiwanis Div 13 Lt. Governor, (USAF veteran); and keynote speaker Commander John Rummel IV, MOAA (US Navy, retired).

The 2026 Field of Honor ceremony will be held on Monday, November 9^th from 10 – 11 am in the Seminole city council chambers at 9199 113^th Street, Seminole, FL. Please note seating is limited to approximately 100, and past ceremonies have resulted in standing room only.

The flag display will be removed on Saturday, December 5th beginning at 1 pm, and once again we greatly appreciate the many needed volunteers who have come out to help.

The Field of Honor project presents an educational opportunity for all children. When viewing the colorful flag streamers children learn through their family members about the history and sacrifices of the veterans being honored. They also learn what our flag and being patriotic means.

The flag sponsorships for 2026 can easily be done through our Kiwanis Club’s web site at:  http://www.kiwanisseminolebreakfast.com. After a flag sponsorship is purchased, your name and the name of the veteran being honored are included in a scrolling list on the club’s web site up until sponsorships begin for next year’s display. The deadline to sponsor a flag for the 2026 display will be Thursday, October 15th. Since the demand each year for a flag has sometimes exceeded our supply, it is important to act quickly to reserve a flag!

Sherri and Wayne handing out streamers!

The profits from the Field of Honor project are primarily used to support our club’s children-focused programs through our 501(c) (3) non-profit community service foundation. Programs include:  helping teachers purchase classroom supplies at the six elementary schools we’ve adopted, supporting two elementary school K-Kids

clubs and seven BUG’S programs, annually hosting four Family Fun Fishing Days, reading and providing free books at preschools, and contributing to numerous outreach programs benefiting children and families.

THE 2026 FIELD OF HONOR FLAG SPONSORSHIP NOW OPEN!

For additional information please contact Kiwanians Leah Hoffman at (727) 873-7852 or David Green at (727) 504-4342.

Volunteers prepare the flags!

Volunteers raise the flags!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT KIWANIANS
LEAH HOFFMAN AT (727) 873-7852 OR DAVID GREEN AT (727) 504-4342.