“Field of Honor” event to premiere “Honor Flight” film, set world record

MILWAUKEE -- We lose nearly 1,000 World War II veterans each day -- one hero every 90 seconds.  To salute the courageous men and women, the "Honor Flight" film will have its world premiere at Miller Park August 11th and the event is on pace to set a world record.

In less than three weeks, 87-year-old Harvey Kurz will be among the hundreds of WWII vets at the ballpark for a once-in-a generation reunion. He was a radio operator in the Navy and his story is one of many featured in the "Honor Flight" documentary.

“I saw the flag go up on Mount Suribachi -- the original flag.  The invasion was the 19th of February, 1945,” Kurz said.

On Tuesday, July 24th, FOX6 News got the first glimpse of the film, which retells the vets' tales and follows them along the flight to Washington D.C. for the monument built in their honor.

“As usual, it’s just like being married.  My wife would ask me questions, I had to answer,” Kurz said.

“The honesty, the integrity, the genuineness and the authenticity came right through that camera.  That really started that journey,” movie director Dan Hayes, who is a Wauwatosa native, said.

Hayes will premiere the film Saturday, August 11th during the stadium-sized event called "Field of Honor."  Ticket sales have already surpassed expectations -- 24,000 tickets have been sold.

“We are only 3,023 tickets away from officially making the Guinness Book of World Records,” Renee Riddle with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, a volunteer group helping promote the movie said.

The goal is to have a sell-out crowd of 30,000 people as a salute the Greatest Generation.

“I get so excited talking about this.  I can’t wait until the 11th.  I'm going to bring an extra box of Kleenex I think,” Kurz said.

The "Field of Honor" event will kick off with an WWII aircraft flyover and Navy Seals skydiving into the stadium.

Lots open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, August 11th.  The movie plays at 6:30.

Tickets are $11.

If you would like to purchase a ticket, you do so at the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight website by CLICKING HERE.

CLICK HERE for additional information on the event.

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