How one DAV supporter teaches the next generation about service
Author: Nikki Herrmann Date: 08/11/2026
Longtime DAV supporter Jill Remick standing in a field of American flags.
Since the inception of DAV Field of Flags, schools across the country have created displays of American flags to honor local veterans while helping students gain a deeper understanding of service, sacrifice and patriotism. For supporters like longtime DAV donor Jill Remick, programs like Field of Flags provide an opportunity to honor those who served.
Throughout her career as a nurse, Remick cared for veterans and witnessed the challenges many service members face after returning home. Combined with a lifelong appreciation for the military, those experiences strengthened her commitment to supporting veterans. When she learned about Field of Flags, she saw it as another meaningful way to give back.
“I have supported DAV for 40 years. I'm a retired nurse. I've seen the effects of people not getting the care that they need,” she said. “When you work where I did for all those years, you see how helpful it is to inspire people of the good that you can do.”
Field of Flags also serves a civic purpose in many communities. Schools in all 50 states have incorporated Field of Flags into their Veterans Day activities, giving students an opportunity to learn about local veterans while becoming more involved in their communities and gaining a deeper appreciation for service and giving back.
For fifth grade social studies teacher Brad Puckett, Field of Flags has become more than a Veterans Day activity. The program is now part of his curriculum, and Puckett has seen it have an impact on his students.
“You really do see some lives change,” Puckett said. “You see kids change because they see the importance of it. When they see the effort that went into our Field of Flags, I think it makes them realize, ‘Hey, this must be important.’”
For Remick, helping students better understand veterans is one of the reasons she gives to Field of Flags.
“I think it's extremely important that [students] know, because so many people don't know what is going on with veterans,” she said. “I think it's important that we tell them.”
Remick said she’s noticed how Field of Flags can impact entire communities. When schools host displays, the flags often spark conversations among parents, neighbors and community members, creating opportunities to share DAV’s mission and educate the public about the sacrifices made by veterans and military families.
“I think it's important to bring the community together because it forces them to see and question,” Remick said. “Then someone will tell them it's to honor our veterans and our military families, and it opens their eyes to what's going on without just reading it somewhere.”
Remick hopes her support of Field of Flags will continue to inspire students and communities to learn more about the sacrifices made by veterans and the impact their service has on our nation.
You can join Remick and other patriotic supporters in helping schools and communities learn about the importance of veterans and their sacrifices by supporting Field of Flags. To learn more about how you can make a difference, visit dav.org/flags.
