The second annual Upstate Field of Honor held a ceremony on September 11, 2025, which marked the 24^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This year’s location for the Upstate Field of Honor was changed to the field adjacent to the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs in Easley.

Patricia ‘Patti’ Fazekas, Executive Director of the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs, welcomed everyone to the event.  “Good evening, everyone. It is truly my honor and privilege to welcome you all here today to this very special Field of Honor event. My name is Patti Fazekas, and I am humbled to serve as the new Executive Director of the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs. I also have the privilege of being a proud member of the Foothills Civitan Club, and, today, both of those roles have come together in the most meaningful way. This Field of Honor is more than just a breathtaking display of American flags. Each one represents a story, a memory, a tribute. Whether sponsored in memory or in honor of a loved one, a friend, a hero, these flags symbolize courage, sacrifice, and love. They remind us of those we’ve lost, those who served, and those who inspire us every single day. This event was thoughtfully organized by the Foothills Civitan Club in partnership with the DSN Board as a way to honor heroes in all forms, including the vulnerable adults we serve every day. These individuals are the heart of what we do. They show strength, resilience, and joy in ways that continue to inspire us all.

“It is now my pleasure to introduce someone who has been a guiding force behind the mission and spirit of the Foothills Civitan Club, Mr. Gary Finley. Gary is one of the founding fathers of our Civitan Club, the upcoming President-elect, and a passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. He’s a leader who gives not only his time but his heart to this cause. Please join me in welcoming Gary Finley.”

“Thank you, Patti,” said Finley. “On behalf of Foothills Civitan Club, welcome to our second Field of Honor. It’s appropriate that we close this week-long event on 9-11, Patriots Day. On this day, we remember the 2,979 souls lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and American Airlines Flight 93. We remember the many lives lost by the members of our country’s armed forces and the resulting Gulf War followed by Afghanistan.

“We now have the presentation by American Legion Post 52 of the colors of the United States Armed Forces branches. Please stand.”

Members of the American Legion Post 52 of Easley then posted the colors.

“As each flag is posted,” said Finley, “I would really like for everyone who has served under this particular branch flag or has family members who have served or has sponsored a flag for one who has served in this branch to raise your hand.”

The Legion Post then posted the flags of the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Space Force, and the United States Coast Guard.

“Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by individuals from the Board of Disabilities and Special Needs,” said Fazekas. “Next, we have Mr. Billy Gibson, the Pickens County Emergency Services Director, for our national anthem.”

After Gibson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”, Fazekas introduced Shannon Ducker, Chaplain for the Easley Fire Department, who spoke and then gave the invocation.

“I want to thank the Foothills Civitan Club of Easley and the Board of Disabilities and Special Needs and all the sponsors that made this possible, a day that should not be forgotten along with the people who should not have been forgotten years prior to that,” said Ducker. “And all of you here today to honor your heroes, whether it be service members or the first responders or someone who has the noble, moral qualities that has had an impact on your life or others.

“When I think of my heroes, I think about my grandfather. I think about my Dad. Some of them even lied about their age just so they could get out on that field or to a base somewhere just to go and serve. Someone that wants to do it so bad that they’ll do whatever it takes. I think of my early days coming up. I had a gentleman who just sang for us. People like him and some others, those men and women in public service who didn’t mind sharing encouraging words and advice to make me better at what I do. Seeing them sacrifice time away from home to catch the bad guy or to respond to people in the middle of the night that just need help. I think of my best friend, Deputy Marcus Lyman Whitfield, and the terrible night he lost his life in Greenville on August 13 of ’99, being shot doing his job. And nearly daily you think about, or we do as brothers in this field, we think about the first responders who didn’t hesitate on that day, 24 years ago. I often think, what went through their minds as those towers fell. And the survivors that sacrificed their health to dig through the rubble every day. Hours and hours and days and weeks and months without sleep just to find one more person that might be living. And just for many, as was reported today or the last few days, to die years later just from being in that environment, 402 to be exact that we found out.

“Because of one of my heroes, earthly heroes, Marcus, my role changed as a first responder because of the life that he represented in his job and his death. I realized I needed a fatherly hero. I was lost. Marc’s life was not for nought. I was facing certain death in eternity. That’s what matters in our lives. Jesus came into my life, the ultimate first responder, the original, led me into ministry with young people. In 2005, he brought me back to what I love, the fire department. He just wrote a book and allows me to serve now my men and some even from the county that used to be there, and now I’m seeing them grow and seeing things happen and things change. But I see heroes all over our whole county on a regular basis, from our law enforcement to our firemen to our EMS workers, rescue, all around us doing God’s work. They show compassion and grace even when some in the public may not give them that credit.

“But as I sat last night, asking God to guide my heart and mouth to make sure it’s pleasing because of the emotions that I had, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t down, because of that. But God reminded me that, as a believer, in Luke 19:10, the original first responder said, ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. And in Psalm 22:24, ‘For he has not scorned the suffering of the afflicted one. He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.’

“And it’s no secret our nation is in trouble. We need our heroes. All of you sitting in the crowd being here tonight. You can be a hero. We all have that capability, because, if Jesus lives in your heart, those qualities come out of what a hero is made of. So, if I can give you any encouraging word, that would be it today.

“And I want to thank all of the military. As soon as something happens, they’re in, and, then, the next thing you know, everybody else follows suit. And we’re going to be praying for each and every one of those members, as well.

“Please join me in praying that we turn to the only one, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for all of us, so that we do have hope of something past this earthly place we’re in right now.”

He then prayed, “Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, Lord. We thank you for what these flags stand for. We’re a nation built on you, God. Nobody can deny that. It’s all written. But, Lord, we also know what’s written in that book. Lord, we know that, in times of need, you send those heroes out. I just want to thank you for those, Lord. Thank you for this group for sponsoring this, Lord, just to show that we’ll never forget. And these people that are here today, Lord, thank you so much for them to come out and feel the same way, Lord, that we won’t forget. But we’ll turn our eyes to you and we’ll look to those hills, and we’ll look up with those eyes and see you one day, Lord. And, for that, Lord, we thank you for all that you do and what you’re going to do, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Thank you so much, Shannon,” said Fazekas. “Bob McDaniel will now present ‘I am the flag.’”

While Pickens High School students Kimberly Hyder (Patsy Finley’s granddaughter) and Jacey Whitlock held American flags, McDaniel then recited from memory the following: “I am the flag of the United States of America, and my name is Old Glory. I fly across the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning, and I stand guard with power throughout the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confidant. I am arrogant. And I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher. My colors are a little truer. And I bow to no one. I am recognized all over the world. I am saluted. I am loved. I am revered. I am respected. And I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I flew over Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Rome, Anzio, and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea, the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of Iraq, and the mountains of Afghanistan all know me, for I was there, and I led my troops. And, though I was dirty, battle worn, and tired, my soldiers cheered me, and I was proud. I have been torn, burned, and trampled on in the streets of the countries that I have helped to set free. But this does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, torn, burned, and trampled on in the streets of my own country. And when this is done by those with whom I have served in battle, then it does hurt, but I shall overcome, for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of earth to stand watch over the unchartered frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours, but my finest hours are yet to come. For, when I am torn into strips and bandaged wounds of my comrades on the battlefield, or when I am flown at half-staff to honor one of my soldiers, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, then I am proud. For I am the flag of the United States of America, and my name is Old Glory.”

“Thank you so much,” said Fazekas. “It is now my great pleasure to introduce someone who truly embodies compassion and community, Mrs. Patsy Finley. Patsy is, without a doubt, the heart and soul of the Foothills Civitan Club. Her kindness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving others have left an incredible mark, not only on our organization but on the entire Pickens County community. She is a constant presence, a source of calm strength, and the driving force behind so much of what Civitan stands for. Today, Patsy has graciously agreed to share with us the story of how the Foothills Civitan Club began, some of the meaningful activities and events they’ve led, and the impact they continue to have on the individuals we serve through the Pickens County DSN Board. I admire Patsy deeply for her leadership, her heart, and for being someone who leads not just with action but with love. Please join me in welcoming our guest speaker, Mrs. Patsy Finley.”

“Many years ago, a group of four individuals came together with the idea of forming a Civitan Club in Easley,” said Finley. “We wanted to support people with disabilities. To spread the word, we distributed over 250 handwritten postcards explaining the club’s mission and purpose. The response was encouraging, as the first meeting attracted a large number of attendees, even if it was uncertain whether they were more interested in learning about the club or enjoying the barbecue that we provided. Several meetings followed. Each focused on clarifying the Civitan’s mission and outlining ways the club could get involved in the community. Once the group had a clear understanding and commitment, the Foothills Civitan Club was chartered through Citivan International organization. Our first meeting as an official club was held. During this meeting, the club brothers reiterated the organization’s goals and began planning projects so that all of the members would have a shared vision for moving forward.

“After that pivotal meeting, one attendee came up to me and asked me about my son. My son had recently had one of his legs amputated and had started using a wheelchair. He lived alone in a house. The new member asked me if my son had a ramp. He did not. Remarkably, in just about a week, my son had that ramp. That member, along with some of his family, built a ramp for my son. That was our Civitan Club’s first project. To me, that said it all. I was a keeper with Civitan then. This act of kindness and initiative, since it did become the very first project, just spurred us on to want to do more projects.

“One of our club members had a daughter who worked in the Care Center. This is a physical therapy facility dedicated to serving children with disabilities. Recognizing the importance of fostering the community and joy, we joined with the Care Center to provide a Christmas party at the facility for the children and their families. This event provided an opportunity for our members to engage directly with the children, creating meaningful connections and positive experiences for everyone involved. Over the years, we continued to support this annual celebration. Through our ongoing involvement, we witnessed the children’s remarkable progress and development in their abilities. The partnership with the Care Center not only enriched the lives of the children but also proved deeply rewarding for our club members, strengthening our commitment to service and inclusion.

“One year, at a South Carolina Civitan district meeting, I approached our members with a proposal to create Christmas cards for all of the children. That would be about 25 cards. The activity was so well received that the group produced enough cards not only for the children we were assisting but also for a facility in the mid-state area serving children with disabilities as well as for children in the lower state area with similar needs. In total, over 100 handmade Christmas cards were distributed.

“Regarding the holiday season, I would like to highlight one of our annual projects conducted from October through Christmas. Foothills Civitan Club sells fruitcakes and distributes them to various Ingles stores for purchase.

“At our meetings, we invite professionals to share insights, helping us to find new ways to serve the community. Our club has heard from various organizations and provided needed support for them. After asking a member of Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs to come to our meeting to discuss what that organization did, we became more aware of opportunities to help the day program and local community homes. During Covid, we delivered supplies for a safe beach bash. We had everything in boxes that you would want, to have a beach party. And, from we understand, they loved it. We couldn’t watch, because it was Covid time. We have also organized a fishing trip, crafts, softball. We’ve shared meals. We’ve hosted a tailgate party with flag football, and we played football with them. And more crafts. But you always play Bingo. That’s the very favorite thing. Mine, too. We assisted with decorating a venue for a dress-up party for Valentine’s Day. And I personally enjoyed attending a party where many of the clients sang karaoke and danced. That was a hoot. During each event we have been involved in, everyone enjoyed the food and the activities.

“Working with the Board of Disabilities and Special Needs has been extremely rewarding for every member of the Foothills Civitan Club. We are raising funds to complete the decorating and furnishing of the Civitan Sensory Room in the day program area. This will be a quiet space for managing anxiety. Profits from the Field of Honor flag sales will support this project. Thank you for sponsoring flags, which will help to make this room a reality.

“Foothills Civitan Club is always looking for people with servants’ hearts, those who want to get involved in helping others. The three main objectives of Civitan are: service, knowledge, and fellowship. Service: helping others. Knowledge: learning about ways to help others. Fellowship: meeting others who have the same goals.

“If you are interested in joining us, we would love to have more members. We have fun. That’s one of the purposes of Civitan, is to enjoy. And we do. Thank you.”

Fazekas thanked Finley and then welcomed back Billy Gibson, who sang “God Bless America.”

“I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the amazing staff and individuals from our program who helped bring this event to life,” said Fazekas. “Your hard work and dedication are evident in every detail. And I am incredibly proud to work beside you. Thank you all for being here and for honoring the heroes in your lives. And thank you for supporting our mission in our community.”

The American Legion Post 52 of Easley concluded the event with a rifle salute, the playing of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes, and the playing of “Taps.”