U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and Fort Bragg’s Survivor Outreach Service office organized a boot laying memorial display at Fort Bragg, N.C.
More than 7,500 boots on display at Fort Bragg this month served as a temporary memorial to service members from all branches who have died since 9/11.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND: 6,957 boots, adorned with American flags and placards depicting the name of each service member killed in action since 9-11 are on display at Fort Adams State Park this Memorial Day Weekend. It’s extremely moving to see this. pic.twitter.com/rrv0yYbJqj
— T.J. Del Santo ⚡🔭 (@tjdelsanto) May 24, 2019
Each boot was adorned with the photo of a fallen service member from one of each of the five military branches and a small American flag.
The display, in addition to being a memorial, was also the centrepiece of the Fort Bragg Run, Honor, Remember 5k, a non-competitive race designed to blend physical fitness and military appreciation.
The boot ceremony has been held every year for the past five years.
“It shows the families the service members are still remembered, honored and not forgotten,” said Charlotte Watson, program manager of Fort Bragg’s Survivor Outreach Services.
7,500 boots are on display at Fort Bragg to honor US service members killed since 9/11 – Photo by Pfc. Hubert Delany #MemorialDay #RememberOurHeroes pic.twitter.com/zA3H2b4cnt
— Military Warriors (@WarriorsSupport) May 25, 2019
The idea for the display came from similar ones at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The first display at Fort Bragg was in Hedrick Stadium in 2014. It was organized by Fort Bragg’s Survivor Outreach Services and Fisher House.
This was the fourth year that Beth Grimshaw volunteered to help set up the display.
