America 250: 700 flags in Sarepta

Decades later, the Mullinses are working to preserve that vanishing era of American life through a massive, striking visual display.

This year, 734 American flags blanket the hillsides of their property near Sarepta, creating a sea of red, white, and blue known locally as the "Healing Fields."

The inspiration for the display dates back to 2006 during a trip to Waterloo, New York, where the couple first saw a similar tribute. Deeply moved, Tony Mullins brought the concept back to Webster Parish, launching the first display at Sarepta High School before expanding to Minden, Bossier City, Spring Hill, and parts of Mississippi over the years.

Setting up hundreds of full-sized flags is a grueling task, but the community has consistently stepped in to help.

"We had a thousand people offer to help put up the flags," Tony Mullins said. "I said, 'Sure, trust me, sure.'"

Over the years, the couple has also gifted nearly 300 flags to visitors and local organizations. For the Mullinses, the grueling physical labor of maintaining the display vanishes when they see the impact it has on passersby.

"I see them in the distance taking pictures with children among the flags," Tony Mullins said, recalling a recent visit from a veteran and his wife who drove in from nearby Magnolia, Arkansas, just to say thank you. "I think it means a lot to them because people still remember what they did."

The Mullinses are not alone in their large-scale patriotism. About 30 miles away, the Abshire family annually paints their own hillside in red, white, and blue.

While the deeply rooted tradition resonates locally, it often baffles international visitors.

"We have friends all over the world. They are surprised at why we put out flags period," the Abshires noted, pointing out that overseas visitors are often perplexed to see the American flag flying at everyday locations like schools and post offices. "They don't get that, but we are proud of who we are."

For Tony and Carol Mullins, the display serves as an essential history lesson for a younger generation growing up in a vastly different world - one where the flag is not always viewed with the same automatic reverence they were taught.

The couple views the nation as a flawed but resilient family. "Look, we have done some things, but we are like a big family," they said. "We have that crazy uncle, but when it comes down to it, we are all in the same boat."

Ultimately, the sea of flags in Sarepta is meant to inspire the children who walk through it.

"Students need to see this," Tony Mullins said. "There is patriotism right here. To stand among those flags and listen - it just gives you goosebumps."