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Deerfield board hears plan for 'Field of Honor' at Jewett Park; honors state‑winning robotics team
Summary
A volunteer project chair outlined plans for a 500-flag 'Field of Honor' at Jewett Park Nov. 7–11 to raise funds for veteran services; the board also recognized Deerfield High's state-winning robotics team headed to the global competition in Houston April 14.
A volunteer project chair presented plans March 3 for a community "Field of Honor"—about 500 American flags to be displayed at Jewett Park from Nov. 7 through Nov. 11, with personalized dedications and sponsorship levels to raise money for veterans organizations.
"That's what the field of honor is," the project chair said, describing a park transformed into "a sea of red, white, and blue" with dedications for service members and veterans. The proposal names partners including the Park District, village public works, the fire department, the library and the Deerfield American Legion.
Organizers said individuals could sponsor flags (roughly $30–$35 per flag) and that sponsorship tiers would include bronze ($500) and silver ($1,000) levels; Briarwood Country Club was announced as the first bronze donor. Staff said flags are supplied by Colonial Flag; volunteers would assemble and place them, and donors could retrieve flags after the display or allow organizers to reuse them in future years.
The project chair said proceeds would benefit two Lake County organizations that assist veterans: the Midwest Veterans Closet and the Lake County Honor Flight. Organizers described the survey and setup logistics (assembly, staffing donation tables during the four-day display) and said they intend to publish more information on a project website and QR-code links.
Separately, Mayor Shapiro invited members of Deerfield High School's robotics program to the dais to recognize a recent state championship. Senior Talia Helfand, representing the Warbots FTC team, said the team earned top scores through a series of matches and will travel to Houston on April 14 for the global tournament. Helfand described the robot's tasks—to pick up small blocks called specimens, place them in scoring bins and attempt an endgame hang—and directed interested viewers to the team's YouTube channel, Warbots FTC.
The board received the presentation and thanked organizers; no formal vote was required on the Field of Honor presentation during the open session.
