A Volunteer Memorial

Story and Photos by Rachel Moore

As you drive through Idaho, the natural beauty is hard to miss. Towering mountain ranges dominate the skyline, backcountry lakes shimmer like mirrors, and the sunsets look like they’ve been pulled straight from a movie screen. But within the city of Pocatello lies a sight more moving to me than anything Nature could provide—a tribute to courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of community.

Just off Interstate 15 at the Century High School soccer field on the south side of Pocatello stand more than seven thousand white crosses, perfectly aligned. Each cross represents a U.S. service member lost in the War on Terror. This is the Field of Heroes—a breathtaking and emotional tribute unlike any other in the nation.

The Field of Heroes is more than a memorial—it’s a full-scale community volunteer project. Every piece of material has been donated. And one of the most significant contributions is time. Volunteers from across the region gather in the days leading up to Memorial Day to bring the display to life.

This year, I had the honor of being one of those volunteers.