Operation Stand Down RI (OSDRI) has  announced the return of the full display of Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial on Memorial Day weekend (May 24-27).

Volunteers started on converge Wednesday at Fort Adams in Newport  to set up the Memorial. The memorial will open to the public Friday starting at 9 a.m. It will be open May 24, 25, and 26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Memorial Day, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Admission and parking are free.  There will be a special ceremony for Rhode Island’s Gold Star Families to place the boots representing their fallen loved ones at 6:30 p.m. on May 24th. 

This year 5 new boots have been added to the Memorial.  They represent three soldiers killed in Jordan and two Navy Seals who perished during a mission off the coast of Africa.

“This Memorial is a living tribute honoring the sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make in support of our Nation. The boots featured in this Memorial each represent a U.S. Service Member killed in the more than two decades of conflict known as the Global War on Terror. We think it is an important reminder to the public that the Global War on Terror continues and U.S. Service Members continue to lay down their lives for our Nation’s security,” said Dee DeQuattro, Founder of the Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial. “Memorial Day is more than a day to barbeque; it is about service, sacrifice, and honoring those who answered the call to duty and gave all.”

 In addition to the Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial, the event will feature the Invisible Scars of War Monument. This Monument recognizes the pain and sacrifices of military members who have succumbed to the invisible scars of war, such as depression and PTSD, and ultimately committed suicide. First of its kind in R.I., this Monument reminds us of the lasting effects of war and trauma.

The Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial was launched by OSDRI in 2015. The Memorial depicts over 7,000 boots adorned with flags and name placards representing the lives of the U.S. service members killed in action post-9/11 in the Global War on Terror. The exhibition has been seen by tens of thousands of visitors since its inception. Every fallen service member is included in the Memorial; service members are alphabetized by state, allowing individuals to locate friends, comrades, and loved ones. Tragically, the Memorial continues to grow each year as the Global War on Terror continues.

The first three years the Memorial was displayed at Roger Williams Park in Providence. In 2019, the Memorial relocated to Fort Adams State Park in Newport.  Most recently, over Veterans Day 2023, the Memorial was featured at Gillette Stadium. The event was attended by thousands and marked the first time the Memorial had been featured outside of Rhode Island.