A new patriotic display has come to La Verne this Fourth of July, with nearly 150 American flags filling a local park as part of the inaugural Field of Courage fundraiser hosted by the Rotary Club of La Verne.

The display, open through Monday, July 6, honors veterans, active-duty military members and first responders. Community members can sponsor a flag for $50 in honor of a loved one, with proceeds helping the local VFW Post 12034 Band of Brothers effort to replace its aging transportation bus, a project expected to cost between $30,000 and $40,000.

Project coordinator Rae Kearney said she and her husband brought the idea to La Verne after helping organize a similar Field of Glory display for a decade with the Azusa Rotary Club before transferring to the Rotary Club of La Verne.

"We thought, why can't we bring this to the City of La Verne for its community members to enjoy and appreciate?" Kearney said.

Each sponsored flag includes a dedication tag recognizing the individual being honored. Kearney said one of the most meaningful parts of the display is watching visitors read the tags, walk among the rows of flags and reflect on the people they represent.

Residents can sponsor a flag throughout the display at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/la-verne-rotary-field-of-courage. The poles and flags will be stored and reused for future displays.