Salt Lake City - 15 September, 2002 -

Unishippers is helping to deliver a unique and moving memorial honoring the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The field, a “Healing Field ,” gives you the sensation of walking through a cornfield of flags, 3,412 of them; one for each person killed on 9/11. You literally get lost in the flags as you feel the enormity of the number of lives lost. It is a unique opportunity for school children, families and individuals to get a perspective of how big the number 3,412 is, while serving as a source of healing and expression of patriotism. The idea originated in Sandy, Utah, on the one-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Paul Swenson, President of Colonial Flag, and a Unishippers customer, wanted to create a display demonstrating the sheer enormity of the human-life lost on that terrible day. He worked with Sandy City to place flags on a two-acre field to the south of Sandy City Hall. Each 3x5’ flag represented a soul and the people who loved them. The response to the field was overwhelming. Thousands of people flocked to the site, gaining a better understanding of the sheer magnitude of loss. Slowly, people started to re-emerge from the numbness and shock that still lingered, allowing the healing process to begin. It was such a powerful statement, that Colonial Flag made the decision to offer this program to communities across the country. Unishippers got involved in mid-July when Dave Kadleck, a Sales Consultant with the Salt Lake City franchise, called Steve Nelson, CEO of Unishippers and asked for his support. Colonial Flag needed help arranging transportation of the flags to the various communities and wanted some banners to put on the trucks to help promote the fields. Steve immediately agreed to help. While the Salt Lake City franchise worked on transporting the flags, the corporate office began producing banners to help increase national recognition of the program as the flat beds moved across the country, delivering the flags and poles to each site. “ We were fortunate in that we didn’t lose any of our staff in the attacks,” said Steve, “but we did have a few staff members who lost loved ones. Our hearts went out to them, and to all the families that were impacted by the events of that terrible day. We think these Healing Fields are the ultimate expression of reverence and respect for life and liberty. We are happy to play a small role in bringing these fields to communities across the country.” In addition to the Healing Field in Sandy, Utah, healing fields will also be in: Livingston, NJ Gresham, OR Lubbock, TX Odessa, TX Unishippers and Colonial Flag are working together to help get the word out to communities across the country so Americans from sea to shining sea can experience this powerful, patriotic experience.

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