Every year for a week over 9-11 volunteers put up over 3,300 flags in Sandy City to be a commemoration of hope on the anniversary of September 11. The flags also remember those lives lost.
On that date in 2001, Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and a third the passengers were able to divert so it crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. It stunned the nation. This is a photo from our trip to New York in September 2008.
I remember exactly where I was when I found out about the first plane and every detail of the next few hours as we learned of the subsequent attacks. I’m sure nearly everyone who was old enough to know what was happening remembers.
I hope as we remember we are inspired to be a little kinder and make the world a better place. This healing field is also a great way to teach your kids a bit about this painful history and teach them to be kinder as well.
The Utah Healing Field is located at 10000 Centennial Parkway in Sandy, Utah.
Stats: Distance – .01 miles (you can wander around)
Approximate hiking time – 10-30 minutes
Elevation gain – 0 feet
Difficulty – Easy
Trail – paved/grass lawn
Bathrooms – Yes
Seasons to hike – For one week near September 11. In 2023 it is Sep. 9-12. (For 2021 it’s September 9-13. For 2022, the flags will be put up Friday, September 9 at 5:30 pm and taken down Monday evening, Sep. 12 at 5:30 pm.)
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
Other flags are hung at different times of year. Over the first week of July a giant flag is in Grove Creek Canyon and from July 4 – 24 a large flag hangs in Willow Canyon next to Hidden Valley Park. A large flag is hung in Rock Canyon over September 11. Over Veteran’s Day in November a giant flag is hung in Coldwater Canyon in North Ogden.
Hikes nearby are Rocky Mouth Falls, Bells Canyon, and Temple Quarry Trail.
