Fort Bragg — one of the most well-known Army bases in the United States — is collecting military boots to help honor those who have died fighting for their country.
For those who don’t know, Fort Bragg is the home of the Airborne. And it has been for more than half a century now. The military base is located just west of Fayetteville, North Carolina, covering roughly 251 square miles over four counties. It is named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
Fort Bragg has always had a proud heritage, as most military members know. And that’s part of the reason why they go out of their way to put together touching tributes to our fallen heroes. The latest of which has come in the form of asking families for a pair of boots from a fallen loved one. The boots will be put on display in a field during the Fort Bragg Army Community Service’s annual 5k run.
Evidently, each boot on display during the annual run represents an individual military member who has passed away. Charlotte Watson, the Fort Bragg Survivor Outreach Services coordinator explained as much to Fox News.
“The ‘Run, Honor, Remember’ memorial boot display honors our fallen service members since Sept. 11, 2001,” she explained. “The Fort Bragg Survivor Outreach Services collects military-type boots and prepares them for display at Hedrick Stadium. Each boot represents a fallen hero from all branches of service.”
Fort Bragg Partnering With Military Families
As we know, losing a beloved family member is one of the hardest things to go through in life. And even though it never gets any easier, Fort Bragg Army base is working with the families of fallen heroes to help honor their legacies. The Fort Bragg Survivor Outreach Services coordinator explained just that.
“The families of the fallen heroes are still here,” Charlotte Watson added. “Grief doesn’t just go away. A program like ours, Survivor Outreach Services, honors their fallen service member’s legacy.”
As for those in the community who would like to participate, they can do so by signing up for the annual 5k run. Or they can just make a stop by the memorial boot display. That memorial began at Fort Bragg back in 2014. Volunteers prepare each boot by hand. They carefully tie each lace and place an empty water bottle inside each boot to keep it standing upright. The Army base needs about 7,500 boots to fill out the entire display.
“The event is an opportunity for the community to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our nation by participating in the run or visiting the memorial boot display,” she continued. “The boots are lined up in rows across the field with a photo of a fallen service member and includes a unit and date of death.”
Looking to donate a pair of boots or know someone who is? Check out this flyer from the Fort Bragg Facebook page.