Boots on the Ground for Heroes, May 28-31

The Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial will be displayed at Fort Adams in Newport over Memorial Day Weekend May 28th – 31st, 2021. Hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 8am – 8pm, and Monday 8am – 6pm. Admission is free for all attendees. Masks are required for entry.

In 2016, Operation Stand Down RI launched the Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial which presented almost 7,000 combat boots adorned with flags and placards. Each boot represents the life of a U.S. service member killed in action post 9-11 in the Global War on Terror.

The placard attached to each boot displays the name and photo of the fallen along with biographical information, military branch, rank and circumstances of death. The Memorial is updated yearly to incorporate additional U.S. service members killed in the ongoing Global War on Terror.

The boots, adorned by the name placards, are alphabetized and organized by State and U.S. Territories. This allows those with a personal connection to locate a specific fallen hero’s boot. Many times, family, friends and comrades of the fallen can be seen solemnly viewing a particular boot and leaving a memento. Since its inception, over ten thousand visitors from all over the U.S. have visited during Memorial Day Weekend.

The first three years the Memorial was displayed at Roger Williams Park in Providence. In 2019, the Memorial was displayed at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. Fort Adams is one of the oldest military posts in the Country.

To volunteer for our Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial – set up and break down volunteers needed – please sign up here: https://osdri.charityproud.org/VolunteerRegistration/Index/2510

Sponsors:

About Operation Stand Down:

Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Johnston, OSDRI’s mission is to strengthen the veteran community by providing crucial wrap-around services.

Ending the cycle of veteran homelessness, and preventing it, requires much more than providing a roof over the head of an individual veteran or veteran family. To achieve this goal, OSDRI offers a wide range of life-changing services including supportive permanent and transitional housing, intensive case management, basic human needs assistance (for example, food and clothing) and an employment training and placement program.

OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Our Mission

OSDRI’s mission is to strengthen the veteran community by providing crucial wrap-around services.

Our Vision

Our vision is to empower the most successful generation of transitioning service members through outreach, advocacy and dignity.

To learn more about Operation Stand Down, go to: https://osdri.org/