Field of Heroes remembers and honors loved ones
LANCASTER – It’s been four years since Evan Bartos has been to the Field of Heroes event, but this year was a chance to honor his great grandfather for his service during the Korean War.
Held on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, the event started in 2014, and is part of the Freedom’s Never Free “appreciation celebration” of people who have served or are serving in the military or as first responders.
Bartos, a fourth-grader from Canal Winchester, carried a flag for his great grandfather Thomas Acton, an Airman First Class in the US Air Force.
Thomas served during the Korean War, and died in 2019. Evan said he was excited to help honor and remember Thomas, and other members of the military.
Evan’s mother Danielle said she was proud her son could be a part of the ceremony, and for helping honor her grandfather, especially after his passing. It was a family affair: Evan’s grandparents Tim and Sara Acton, and his great aunt Suzy Acton, were there to commemorate Thomas.
“He volunteered with (Freedom’s Never Free), he might not have been able to see much, but he was very spirited. He loved to get to do stuff, and seeing Evan honor him this way, was tremendous,” Tim said.
FNF President Jeannie Ignash said Thomas was an “amazing” volunteer, helping where he could, and to have him remembered this year was very touching.
“And that’s the spirit of the Field of Heroes, it helps show people how blessed we are because of people like Thomas. We’ve got more than 200 flags out here, and we’re barely touching the bottom of the bucket of everyone who served,” Ignash said. “It’s the ironic thing of all this. The event is designed to remember those who served, but the ones I see sacrificing to help the most are veterans and their families.”
This year’s overall theme is remem
bering the Korean War, often remembered as the “Forgotten War.” A traveling Korean War Veterans Memorial is also on the fairgrounds.
The conflict began 70 years ago, between the end of World War II and the start of the Vietnam War, but Larry Smith, a FNF board member and Vietnam War veteran, said the experiences Korean War veterans have parallel today’s veterans returning from serving in the Middle East.
“Korean War veterans were often excluded from (Veterans of Foreign War) posts, because those members said they hadn’t served in a real war, because technically it was a police action. Until other organizations were founded to include them, those vets were mostly forgotten,” Smith said. “And if you look at the people served in the Middle East, or are serving, they’re almost being overlooked in the same manner.”
“You really have to feel for them, as they’re facing many of the same troubles Korean and Vietnam veterans faced. This event helps remind people what service members and their families go through, and I think it’s one way
to help bring respect back into the country.”
He added there are many ways people can give back, and the FNF event and the Field of Heroes is one such way.
“It helps people recognize the loss others go through, and what it takes to keep America American,” Smith said.
Ignash echoed that sentiment, adding that posting a flag is a very humbling experience.
“If you’ve grown up around the military or served yourself, you might have some sense of it. But it’s a very different world, and until you’ve seen that black car pull up to your house, you won’t experience anything like this,” she said. “And even if this year is different because of the coronavirus pandemic, we were very glad we could hold this event, so families, like Thomas’, could come and honor them, and so everyone could remember that freedom is never free.”
The Korean War memorial and the Field of Heroes will remain on the fairgrounds until 6 p.m. Saturday. blawlis@gannett.com 740-681-4342 @Barrettlawlis