Midway City will commemorate Wasatch County veterans with 250 flags leading up to Memorial Hill as part of its America250 celebration.
Midway City Councilor Andrew Osborne, who is spearheading the event, said the flags will create a visible memorial for Wasatch County veterans who served the United States. The commemoration recognizes the “freedoms made possible” through their sacrifice.
Attendees can choose their own flags to take up the Memorial Hill trail. Then the crowd will hike up the hill and post the flags, where they’ll remain until July 11.
Osborne said the event is personally important to him because he recognizes the unique celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is, he said, something that everyone should honor and recognize.
He added that the Midway City Council is fully supporting and celebrating America250 events in town, coinciding with the nationwide commemoration. The event also falls one day after the annual Flag Day, which recognizes the adoption of the U.S. flag and what the “Stars and Stripes” represent.
“We are taking very seriously the America250 events, honestly, as just a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Osborne said. “I don’t know if I’ll be here in 50 years. I certainly won’t be here in another 250 years.”
Osborne said it’s an opportunity to commemorate patriotism and shared love of the state and country’s veterans.
“Specifically for Memorial Hill as a chance to commemorate, acknowledge our military and past and future veterans that have served,” Osborne said. “Memorial Hill … we deem it very special.”
Some individuals who have lived in Midway for years have never visited Memorial Hill. He said that’s a loss that can be corrected with attendance at the event on Monday.
“Part of this in my intent as a councilmember representing the city is to create awareness for our veterans and Memorial Hill,” Osborne said.
Apart from the honor made to veterans, Osborne said the hill is a way to overlook the valley and reflect on the magnificence of Midway.
“Midway City’s got this unbelievable Memorial Hill right in the middle of this city,” Osborn said. “It’s absolutely underutilized, not only for people to come see and pay attention to our veterans, but as a focal point to go up, hike up, drive up and then see the city from that viewpoint, which I think is super special.”
Osborne encourages everyone in Midway to attend the America250 event on Monday. He said there are still flag kits, donations and sponsorships available. There is $15,000 left in the project’s $60,000 fundraising goal.
After the flags are removed, they will go to the purchaser to be used at home.
The event will kick off at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Midway Community Center. Then, attendees will move to the Memorial Hill trail for flag installations.