Honoring Our Heroes: Third annual Upstate Field of Honor holds opening ceremony on 25th anniversary of 9/11 and commemorates 250th year of our nation's founding
By Karen Brewer, Publisher & Editor, The Pickens County Chronicle
Upstate Field of Honor, September, 2026 (Video by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
The opening ceremony for the third annual Upstate Field of Honor, held the evening of Friday, September 11, 2026 at the field adjacent to the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs on Griffin Mill Road in Easley, marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and commemorated the 250th year of our nation’s founding. The event was organized by Patsy and Gary Finley of the Foothills Civitan Club, and sponsorships as well as proceeds from the sale of flags benefitted the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs.
(Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Following Katherine Lee Bates’ song “America the Beautiful” played on the bagpipes by Easley American Legion Post 52 Commander Rick Stover, Christopher Manley asked everyone to stand for the singing of Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem, by Pickens County Chief of Emergency Services Billy Gibson.
Easley American Legion Post 52 Commander Rick Stover plays "America the Beautiful" on bagpipes, and Pickens County Chief of Emergency Services Billy Gibson sings the national anthem. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Manly, a U.S. Army veteran and Director of Day Services for the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs, then welcomed everyone to the event. “It is my honor to serve as tonight’s program chair for the Field of Honor 2026,” he said. “Tonight is especially meaningful, as we gather during the 250th anniversary year of our nation’s founding and 25 years after September 11, 2001. These milestones give us an opportunity to reflect on the people who have protected our country, served our communities, and stepped forward when they were needed the most.
“The Field of Honor recognizes our service members and our first responders and the personal heroes who have earned a special place in someone’s heart. For some of us, that may be a soldier, a sailor, an airman, Marine, or a veteran who served our country. For others, it may be a police officer, a firefighter, a paramedic, emergency services worker, or another person who has answered the call to help others. And, for some, it may be someone whose name you may never see in the newspaper or on a uniform at all. It may be a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, friend, neighbor, caregiver, or someone who simply showed up when you needed them the most. That is what makes tonight so meaningful.
“Every flag here represents someone who matters to someone. Behind every name is a story. There is a life that was lived, a sacrifice that was made, a difficult moment that was faced, or an act of kindness that was never forgotten. Tonight, we come together to remember those people, to recognize their service and sacrifice, and to say something that sometimes goes unsaid – thank you. Thank you to those who have served our country. Thank you to those who continue to protect and serve our communities. And thank you to the people who have quietly made a difference in the lives of others simply by being there.
“We are grateful to everyone who helped make tonight possible, including the Foothills Civitan Club, American Legion Post 52, our local students, first responders, community leaders, volunteers, and everyone who placed a flag here tonight in honor or in memory of someone special. We hope that, as you look across this field this evening, you’ll not simply see just a row of flags. We hope that you will see the people behind them. And we hope you will take a moment tonight to remember your own hero.”
U.S. Army veteran and Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs Director of Day Services Christopher Manley welcomes everyone to the Upstate Field of Honor. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Manley then asked everyone to remain standing and introduced Pickens Mayor Rev. Isaiah Scipio for the event’s invocation.
“Let us pray,” said Scipio. “Oh, God, our heavenly Father, the maker of all things and the true righteous judge of all men, Father, we come here first and foremost with thanksgiving in our hearts, thanking you for all of the possibilities that come with living in a free nation. Father, we want to remember, also, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us to have these freedoms. Father, now, continue to bind us together as a nation, as a community, that we can use our talents to do your will. Father, I thank you for the love which we feel for one another and how you’ve shown that love through the giving of your son, Jesus Christ. Now, Father, speak to us, speak for us, speak through us, so that, at the end, as a righteous God, you will not have to speak against us. In Christ Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”
Manley asked everyone to continue standing and introduced Tyler Poole, Sergeant-at-Arms for the Foothills Civitan Club, who led the crowd in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Pickens Mayor Rev. Isaiah Scipio gives the invocation, and Tyler Poole, Sergeant-at-Arms for the Foothills Civitan Club, leads in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Manley then asked everyone to be seated, and he spoke about the importance of the American flag: “Throughout our lives, we see the American flag in countless places. We see it flying over government buildings, outside homes, and businesses, at sporting events, and at ceremonies such as this one. But the flag is more than a symbol. It represents the history of our nation, the freedoms we enjoy, and the sacrifices made by generations of Americans to protect those freedoms.”
He then welcomed to the stage members of the Honor Guard of Easley’s American Legion Post 52, who demonstrated the proper folding of the American flag as Dr. Jonathan Strange, Second Vice Commander of Post 52, explained the significance of each fold. “The first fold of our American flag is a symbol of life,” Strange said. “The second fold signifies our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor and tribute of the veteran departing our ranks, who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace. The fourth fold exemplifies our weaker nature; as citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn for all divine guidance. The fifth fold is an acknowledgement to our country. In the words of Stephen Decatur, ‘Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.’ The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The seventh fold is a tribute to the armed forces, for it is through our armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies. The eighth fold is a tribute to who has entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day. The ninth fold is in honor to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the character of men and women who have made this country great have been molded. The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first born. The eleventh fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twelfth fold, in the eyes of Christian citizens, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The last fold: when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, ‘In God We Trust.’”
Members of Easley American Legion Post 52 Honor Guard demonstrate the proper way to fold an American flag. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
As Strange spoke, Doug Musik, a veteran Navy pilot, flew over the ceremony.
“Thank you to the members of American Legion Post 52 for that meaningful presentation and for the service you continue to provide to our community,” said Manley.
U.S. Navy veteran and pilot Doug Musik flies over the Field of Honor ceremony. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Manley then introduced Bob McDonald, of Pickens, who, for the third year in a row, recited “I Am the Flag” (written by Howard Schnauber). While McDonald spoke, Kimberly Hyder, a senior at Pickens High School (and a granddaughter of Patsy Finley and first cousin once removed to Captain Kimberly Hampton) and Taliyah Wilson (a freshman at Easley High School) each held an American flag as they stood on stage.
“I am the flag of the United States of America,” recited McDonald. “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 250 years. I flew over Appomattox, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea, the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of Iraq, and the mountains of Afghanistan. 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 to bandage wounds of my comrades on the battlefield, or, when I am flown at half-staff to honor one of my fallen 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.” He then concluded, “Thank you, and God bless America.”
Bob McDonald recites "I am the Flag" while Pickens High School senior Kimberly Hyder and Easley High School freshman Taliyah Wilson hold an American flag. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Manley then introduced the event’s featured speaker, Dr. James ‘Clif’ Caldwell, an Emergency Room Physician at An-Med Health Cannon in Pickens and a physician with Living Well Integrative Healthcare in Easley.
“As a physician and a member of our community, Dr. Caldwell brings a unique perspective on service, compassion, and the importance of caring for others,” said Manley. “Tonight, he will share a special message with us as we continue with our Field of Honor celebration. Please join me in welcoming Dr. James Caldwell.”
When Caldwell stepped to the podium, he said that, when Patsy Finley had asked him several months ago to be the event speaker, he had planned to be able to fit into his U.S. Air Force uniform for his speech. “Y’all do not see an Air Force uniform tonight, because I’ve had 14 grandchildren in the last few years, and, after about the 10th one, I never could get my figure back.”
He then asked everyone to remember Patsy Finley in their prayers. “Right now, she’s in the hospital, and she helped put all this together. So, remember her this evening.
“All those gathered here and across the country at similar gatherings, which have been going on all day today, share a bond and a promise,” Caldwell said. “Folks, we gather today together on this solemn ground bound together by a sacred duty of remembrance. We come to honor a promise made 25 years ago, a promise made to those we’ve lost, those who survived, and those who miss their loved ones now, a promise to our fellow Americans and to the God who is over all of this. We will never forget.
“I want to share a memory, a promise, and a commitment.
“Let’s look at the memory a little bit. How many of y’all remember the exact spot you were in when 9/11 happened?” After a showing of hands, he said, “Basically, everybody that was alive at that time.
“Tuesday morning, 25 years ago, we started our day — a crisp late summer day, just like we had a thousand times before — got our coffee, kissed our family, went off to work. At that time, we were entirely unaware that our earthly lives would be forever changed before lunch. In a matter of moments, our lives were changed by an evil that we could not imagine. The coordinated terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93 shook our nation to the core. The brutally evil attack killed nearly 3,000 people, more than those dead at Pearl Harbor. And, at that moment, we faced the reality that we live in a broken, fallen world where evil is real, and devastation can come in an instant.
“But, even during this despicable act, we saw men and women live out the fact that ‘the light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ There were so many heroes on that day, and I think we need to remember a few of them.
“There was a guy named Welles Crother, a 24-year-old equities trader, who ran down from the 104th floor and stopped on the 78th floor, and there he started directing people to the only open stairwell in the building. He was seen again. He got these people down on the stairs, went back up to the same place, got more people down, and, the last time he was seen, he was going back up for a third time.
“There was a group of strangers on a commuter flight who banded together. By this time, they had already gotten cell phone calls. They knew what was going on in New York, and they voted not to let that happen with their plane. And their plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. No one survived. But there’s no telling how many people they saved with that heroic act.
“There was a guy named Benjamin Clark, a chef, a former Marine, who is credited with saving hundreds from the 96th floor. On the way down, he stopped to help somebody in a wheelchair. Never saw him again.
“There was a guy named Leonard Hatton. He was a FBI special agent. He was on his way to work that day, saw the smoke, and went to help. He didn’t have to help. He went in with the firemen, and eventually the building collapsed on him.
“There was a guy named Rick Rescorla. He was the Chief Security officer for Stanley Morgan. Rick, by himself, got 2,800 people out of the tower. He was one of only 13 Stanley Morgan people who died in that tragedy.
“We could go on for hours with the heroes that were in those two buildings.
“Put this in a little bit perspective: 441 first responders died in 9/11, 343 firemen, 37 Port Authority policemen, 23 New York policemen, and eight EMS people. These ordinary people answered a higher calling that day. These heroes did not stop to ask about politics, backgrounds, beliefs for the people they were saving. They saw fellow men and women made in the image of the Creator, and they answered the call with their lives. ‘Greater love hath no man this this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.’ That’s the memory of this that we need to keep.
“I was driving in, talking to my wife on the phone, and I said, ‘I watched some of that stuff this morning, when I had time,’ and I told her, ‘They should show this once a quarter every year, all year long. We should remember that.’
“Now, because of this, we make a promise. That promise is very, very simple — we will never forget the evil, and we will never forget the heroes of 9/11.
“A couple of things happened after 9/11. First, men and women volunteered to serve in our armed services. There was a huge surge of recruits in all of the branches, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. If we would have had a Space Force, they would have probably volunteered for that.”
He then recognized veterans in the crowd. “If you are a veteran and put on a uniform at one time, would you stand up just long enough for us to show you how much we appreciate you. Thank y’all.”
Returning to his speech about 9/11, he said, “Evil played its hand, and our response was not a nationwide ad campaign to sign up new recruits. No, young men and women signed up because they realized that freedom requires a cost. Because of their love for their country, they put on a uniform. Make no mistake. Those recruits rocked Al-Qaeda’s world. Were those recruits mad? Absolutely, yes. We all were. But they answered the call because it went much deeper than that. On 9/11, we all, including young people, understood, maybe for the first time, that responsibility for preserving our way of life in the greatest country on earth requires our commitment and our sacrifice. These people we just applauded understand that a commitment to something larger than themselves is required – a commitment to their fellow members, a commitment to their family, and, ultimately, a commitment to their country.
“Think about what kind of blessings we get from that commitment. We have the freedom to wake up in our own homes. We have the freedom to raise a family. We have a freedom to worship. We have a freedom to gather with friends. Freedom to speak our mind. Freedom to vote for our leaders. Freedom to pursue our dreams. All these things can feel very ordinary, because they’re part of our daily lives. We take them for granted. But freedom is never ordinary. Freedom has a cost. Throughout our nation’s history, generations of Americans have been willing to pay that cost. And, behind every uniform, there is a son or a daughter, a father or a mother, a husband or a wife, a sister or a brother. 9/11 gave many young people a clarity and an understanding of how wonderful our country can be and how easily it can be destroyed if we do not oppose evil. Fortunately, many Americans understand that.
“The second thing that happened after 9/11 was that our churches were packed. 9/11 gave us back something that we are sorely missing in our country right now. We realized, when those towers crashed, in smoke and ash and twisted steel, that we are not ‘all that.’ We suddenly saw our own frailty in that. We learned humility on 9/11. It was made painfully clear that we are not in control. Fortunately, many Americans, when humbled like this, made the right choice and went back to the true source of our nation’s greatest strength. In uncertainty, fear, confusion, darkness, anxiety, faced with pure evil, there is truly only one source of truth, direction, peace, light, power, and goodness — and that’s our Lord and Saviour. The adversary intended for September 11 to break our spirit, to drive us into paralyzing fear, to fracture our nation with hatred, but what happened on September 12 was a testament to God’s power, to redeem what was meant for evil. The wave of profound unity washed over our land. Politics, status, background, race no longer separated us. We were all searching for an anchor in the storm at that point. We also learned what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves. True strength does not come from our riches, does not come from our government, does not come from our military might, but from our faith and reliance on God. Our forefathers understood this. 9/11 made us see this truth again.”
He said that Americans live in a post 9/11 world now and that young people, who were not alive at the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, need to hear the stories about 9/11. “We must tell these stories,” he said.
He added that we must show others “the only truth there is. We must give them the only real hope that exists. We must reach out in love and show them that the only ultimate security is found in a loving God.
“As we close this time of remembrance, let us walk into the world not with hearts full of fear but spirits anchored in eternal hope. Let us walk forward in an angry world where right is wrong and wrong is right and be the light that this world so desperately needs — for such a time as this. Everyone here is for just this time. God designed you, made you, and put you here. We have a responsibility.
“May the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. May God bless the memory, the promise, and the commitment, and may He guide our steps.”
He concluded by saying, “I’d like all of y’all to join me in closing this. And may God bless — ”
And everyone answered, “America.”
“Amen,” said Caldwell. “Thank you.”
Field of Honor featured speaker Dr. Clif Caldwell shares about 9/11. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Veteran U.S. Navy pilot Doug Musik once again flies over the Upstate Field of Honor ceremony as Dr. Clif Caldwell speaks. (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
“Dr. Caldwell, thank you for those words and for taking the time to be with us tonight,” said Manley. “It is important that a ceremony such as this one recognize the past. They remind us that service and sacrifice continue to having meaning in our communities today. Tonight, we have heard from veterans, community leaders, students, and first responders, and others who have come together for one purpose – to honor those who have served our country.”
Manley then recognized Billy Gibson, who sang “God Bless America” (written by immigrant Irving Berlin).
Billy Gibson sings "God Bless America." (Photo by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle
“On behalf of everyone involved in tonight’s Field of Honor, thank you for coming, thank you for participating, and, most importantly, thank you for remembering,” Manley told the crowd.
The ceremony then concluded with Post 52 Commander Rick Stover playing John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes, members of the American Legion Honor Guard performing a rifle volley, and bugler Aaron Davis of Post 52 playing “Taps” (a tune written by General Daniel Butterfield).
The American flags will fly at the Field of Honor through Friday, September 18, 2026.
Post 52 Commander Rick Stover plays "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes. (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
Members of the Easley American Legion Post 52 perform a rifle volley, and bugler Aaron Davis plays "Taps." (Photos by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle)
