Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and the greater Newburyport community, the Exchange Club of Greater Newburyport was able to host our 16th annual Field of Honor® at Bartlet Mall in Newburyport.

Since our first Field of Honor® in 2010, we have raised over $175,000 to support charitable projects and activities in the areas of Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities, and the Prevention of Child Abuse. All proceeds are used to support local organizations and programs including scholarships for high school seniors at Newburyport, Pentucket, and Triton, recreational events for residents of adult group homes, coffee hours for Veterans, Wreaths Across America, Community Service Newburyport, First Parish Newbury Food Pantry, Maris House, the Salvation Army, and the Michael B. Christensen Community and Family Support Center.

One of the event’s highlights of this year’s event was the Dedication and Remembrance Ceremony held on Sunday September 7th. Thanks to the West Newbury Fire Company who provided and set up a large tent, we were able to conduct the ceremony despite some wet weather. Our speakers included Stu Deane (Exchange Club if Greater Newburyport), Deacon John Moranski (Immaculate Conception Collaborative), Senator Bruce Tarr, Mayor Sean Reardon, Veterans Affairs Officer Kevin Hunt and several Newburyport High School students who are members of the Interact Club under the guidance of science teacher Jill Moran. Neve Mullin, Worth Green, Luna Mutabdzija and Abigail Moriarty offered family sketches of those who have served, and Calleigh Curran went a step beyond to deliver the keynote address on the inspiration she has received from such persons in her life. “It was a great event,” wrote Mayor Reardon the next day. “I think it only gets bigger from here on out. The NHS students did great.” Kevin Hunt added “It’s something I truly enjoy doing, and I’m happy it worked out well.”

Another highlight was the Craig Pearson’s Fire Truck and the 9/11 Memorial Sculpture provided by the Newburyport Fire Department. Craig’s Fire Truck has been painstakingly restored and turned into a moving memorial to the men and women who helped save lives on 9/11. The Memorial Sculpture is made from a piece of steel from the fallen twin towers that collapsed on 9/11. Both were on display at the Field of Honor on Thursday September 11, and provided a poignant reminder of the sacrifices of many fire fighters, police officers, first responders, and the many lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Next year’s Field of Honor will be extra special in that it coincides with the 250th Birthday of the Unites States, the 25th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 tragedy, and the 50th Anniversary of the Exchange Club of Greater Newburyport. We’ve already started the planning, and we are looking forward to hosting our 17th Annual Field of Honor. If you have any comments or suggestions about this year’s Field of Honor, or ideas for next year’s Field of Honor, please leave a comment or email us at exchangeclubnewburyport@gmail.com.