The 7th Annual Field of Honor to Feature Speaker, Author and Historian, Gary Powers Jr.
The annual Rotary Club of Georgetown Foundation’s Field of Honor® is well underway! Following a successful opening weekend, and school field trips occurring through Thursday, noted historian, author, and speaker, Gary Powers Jr. will provide two significant events this week. He is the son of Francis Gary Powers, Sr. the U-2 pilot whose plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, triggering an international incident during the Cold War. He is the author of Enemy Territory (2022), Letters from a Soviet Prison (2017), and Spy Pilot (2019) which all help to dispel the misinformation surrounding the U-2 Incident.
On Thursday, November 9, at 4:30 p.m., there will be a free screening of Steven Spielberg’s movie, Bridge of Spies in the event tent at the field. This movie is about Mr. Powers’ father’s historic experience and will provide commentary about the movie beforehand and will have a Q and A session immediately following.
On Friday, November 10 at 2:00 p.m. – Veterans Day Observed – Gary Powers Jr. will provide a one-hour program with in-depth details about his father’s experience during the Cold War, followed by a book signing.
GARY POWERS, JR. lectures internationally and appears regularly on C-SPAN, the History, Discovery, and A&E channels. He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Cold War Museum, a 501(c) (3) charity located at Vint Hill, VA 45 minutes west of Washington, DC. He founded the museum in 1996 to honor Cold War veterans, preserve Cold War history, and educate future generations about this time period. He is also the past President of the Vienna Tysons Corner Chamber of Commerce.
As Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Cold War Theme Study he worked with the National Park Service and leading Cold War experts to identify historic Cold War sites for preservation. In 2015, he consulted for a Steven Spielberg Cold War thriller, Bridge of Spies, about James Donovan who brokered the 1962 spy exchange between KGB spy Rudolph Abel and CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, Sr.
Gary is a past Board Member of the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace and an Honorary Board Member of the International Spy Museum. Because of his efforts to honor Cold War veterans the Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” for 2002. He holds a BA in Philosophy, and Masters Degrees in Public Administration and US History. He is married and has one son.
The Field of Honor® is also holding a week-long toy drive will benefit Brown Santa. Visitors are encouraged to donate a new unwrapped toy or gift card. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance during the weekend. Kids of all ages can visit with Santa to deliver their donations that will be placed in an 1800s restored sleigh. Photos are encouraged! Santa will wear his special patriotic suit that was first seen in Harpers Weekly in 1863.
Additional uplifting events include the Village Elementary School Children’s Choir on Friday, November 10 at 10 a.m. The exciting patriotic Veterans Day Ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. on November 11. The bells will toll at 11:11 in honor of Armistice Day. Lt. General Jim Huggins, a partner at the McCrystal Group, will be the keynote speaker. There will be patriotic performances by the notable a cappella group, Tonal Harmony and the Sun City Sassy Ladies. The Community Band of Central Texas will inspire all with patriotic music!
Rain or shine, the events will go on in the comfort of the event tent.
This year, the Rotary Club of Georgetown’s Field of Honor® is hosted by GISD on the field behind the Hammerlun Center for Leadership at 507 E. University Avenue in Georgetown. The change in venue was precipitated by the final phase of renovation at San Gabriel Park. The event will return to San Gabriel Park in 2024 and beyond.
Flags can still be purchased and dedicated to past or present veterans or first responders for a donation of $45 per flag. Flags purchased in prior years that are in perfect condition can be reposted for a $20 donation. Purchased or reposted flags can be picked up on Saturday, November 11 from noon to 5:00 and on Sunday, November 12 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Proceeds from flag sales are awarded to local veteran and first responder non-profit organizations that provide services that help with PTSD, suicide prevention, and family support. The Rotary Club of Georgetown retains a portion of the proceeds to help fund service projects and smaller grants that serve our heroes throughout the year. More than $200,000 has been awarded from flag sales to beneficiaries and affiliate organizations since the inception of the Field of Honor in 2017.
The Field of Honor® is open 24/7 and is free to visit. Join us in celebrating and honoring our heroes, feeling the patriotic inspiration, and enjoying the sense of peace and unity. Visit georgetowntxfieldofhonor.org for details.
Remaining Field of Honor® Events
- Monday – Thursday, November 6 – 9
o School Field Trips 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 7
o Georgetown Chamber of Commerce BNL (members and their guests)
- Thursday, November 9
o 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Flag Sales Tent open! Purchase and dedicate new flags, repost flags, buy caps, visors, commemorative challenge coins and pins, folded flags and pre-flown flags
o 4:30 p.m. - Free screening of the Bridge of Spies movie with commentary by Gary Powers Jr. and Q&A
- Friday, November 10
o 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Flag Sales Tent open! Purchase and dedicate new flags, repost flags, buy caps, visors, commemorative challenge coins and pins, folded flags and pre-flown flags
o 10:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. - Village Elementary School’s Choir singing patriotic songs
o 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Rotary Club Meeting Honoring Veterans and First Responders and comments by Gary Powers Jr.; Box lunch - $15.
o 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. – Quilt of Valor ceremonies
o 6:00 p.m. Marine Corps League’s 248th Birthday Ball, at the Georgetown Chamber Event Center – see Field of Honor® website for ticket details on the EVENT page.
- November 11
o 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Flag Sales Tent open! Purchase and dedicate new flags, repost flags, buy caps, visors, commemorative challenge coins and pins, folded flags and pre-flown flags
o 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Veterans Day Ceremony
o 12:30 p.m. - Book signing with Gary Powers Jr.
o Noon to 5:00 – Flag pick-up begins
o Santa and Mrs. Claus (see times on the schedule at the field)
- November 12
o 9:00 a.m. to noon. – Flag Sales Tent open! Purchase and dedicate new flags, repost flags, buy caps, visors, commemorative challenge coins and pins, folded flags and pre-flown flags
o 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Last chance for flag pick-up
o Santa and Mrs. Claus visit
o 5:00 p.m. - Flag Retirement Ceremonies provided by the American Heritage Girls and a host of organizations at the VFW in Georgetown, 1000 College Way.
