Colonial Flag Foundation Marks 25th Anniversary of September 11 With Healing Field® Events

Remembering the Day We Lost So Many and Stood Together.

SANDY, UT, UNITED STATES, September 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, a Utah effort rooted in one simple question continues to honor those who served and sacrificed. Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, a generation that experienced the attacks firsthand is joined by another generation that knows the day primarily through history. For those who were born afterward, September 11 is a historical event — one that can be difficult to understand without the stories of the people behind the numbers.

That is why remembrance matters.

Behind every number was a person. A life. A family. A future.

And in the aftermath of September 11, thousands of people made the decision to serve. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, military members, rescue workers and ordinary citizens moved toward danger when others were moving away. Many lost their lives. Others returned home carrying physical and emotional consequences that would remain with them — and their families — for years.

In Sandy, Utah, one person responded by asking a simple question: “What can I do?”

Twenty-four years ago, Paul Swenson could not change what had happened on September 11. But he believed there could be a way to make the scale of the sacrifice visible — a place where people could pause, reflect and remember the individuals behind the numbers.

That idea became the beginning of The Colonial Flag Foundation.

What started with one person and one idea grew through the participation of cities, schools, civic organizations, businesses, volunteers and communities. Over the years, those partnerships have helped support veterans, first responders and their families while providing opportunities for people to remember and learn about service and sacrifice.

Today, American flags displayed across fields and communities offer a visual reminder of that purpose. Each flag represents more than a symbol. Together, they create a tangible expression of remembrance — connecting the events of September 11 with the people who responded and the generations who have followed.

The number of people who personally remember September 11 will continue to decline. But the responsibility to remember does not.
The events of that day cannot be changed. What can be changed is how their memory is carried forward — through stories, acts of service and a commitment to recognize the people whose lives were forever altered.

The question Paul Swenson asked 24 years ago remains relevant today: “What can I do?”

Twenty-five years later, the answer continues to be found in remembering, serving and making sure we never forget. In remembering the sacrifices of that day and the years that followed, communities are invited to come together at free Healing Field^® events open to the public across the country. Each field provides a place to pause, reflect, honor those who sacrificed, and remember the strength found when communities stand together.

About The Colonial Flag Foundation

The Colonial Flag Foundation is a Utah-based 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans, first responders and their families with Healing Fields^® and Fields of Honor^® installed in communities across the United States. Through community partnerships, educational efforts and acts of remembrance, the organization works to preserve the stories of those who served and ensure that future generations understand the significance of their sacrifice.

Bridget Hughes
The Colonial Flag Foundation
+1 801-256-3639
bridget@healingfield.org
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