What Does It Signify?
Boots meant to signify, “Walking a mile in their footsteps,” allow families and battle buddies something tangible to see. The boots have been collected by the pallet load—thirty-fvie pallets to be exact. And lest you forget, that’s four full sets, one for each venue (Ford Island, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and Fort Campbell) because moving them back and forth between Hawaii and Texas or North Carolina and Georgia is not practical or economical.
Each boot receives a laminated card containing the name and picture of the Fallen, special items provided by family and friends are then added, and finally, the tags are color coordinated by year. Prepping the boots is a massive undertaking but it is only a quarter of the work. Once properly adorned, they are laid out along the route for the “Run, Walk, or Roll,” moved immediately after to a parade field for two weeks as a static display and finally packed up and put into storage for the following year.
The events have grown not only in number of boots on display, but in the amount of volunteers and activities available for participants. On the parade field, military bands provide musical support and play “Taps.” Special guests speak to participants, and there are even rifle details present to provide a gun salute prior to the run/walk.
A group of motorcyclists comprised of active duty service-members, veterans and family members now leads runners, walkers, and bikers to the parade field with a Patriot Guard style escort; hence the addition of “Roll”. Hand-bikes, wheelchairs, and Wounded Warriors follow behind the motorcycles, and military units, having started in formation, fall in directly behind. The remaining participants complete the grouping.
“It’s an interactive event for me,” Johnson says. I’m there from sun up to sun down telling people the stories of the faces on the boots. It’s so personal to me.”
In order to encourage participation by military units, Johnson and her husband established the “Traveling Bronze Boots Award” which is awarded at each event to the unit or group with the most participants registered. Johnson has found that the event is very cathartic for battle buddies left behind.
Meeting the families and friends of the fallen is restorative on both sides as Johnson relays, “A Gold Star Mom was on the parade field at one event when a few of her son’s battle buddies arrived. Each of them, in their sorrow, felt only their own memories remained of their fallen hero. As they talked, they learned that the connection and stories shared were ‘golden nuggets’ of healing in their mourning.”
“The boots are therapeutic for so many. People who come are protective of the display and memories surrounding it. It’s almost sacred for the participants,” says Johnson. She says it’s amazing how quiet it is even with hundreds of people viewing at once.
For Johnson herself, she says each year is life changing. “Aside from getting married and having children,” Johnson says, “it’s the most memorable thing most participants will ever do.”
For additional details about the Tripler House or Fort Hood Fisher House events, please check www.eventbrite.com.
Fisher House
The Fisher House organization assists families with everything from a place to stay while a loved one is hospitalized, to providing airline tickets to maintaining a self-contained support community. There is even a Gold Star family home in Dover reserved exclusively for the families of the fallen. Information about the Fisher House can be found at www.fisherhouse.org.
Stacey Faris is a two time Spouse of the Year at Yuma Proving Ground.
Fun Fact! Theresa Johnson is the 2014 and 2015 Ft. Hood Spouse of the Year
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