“Boots on the Ground for Heroes” returns to Fort Adams for Memorial Day Weekend

NEWPORT, R.I. — “Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial” is back at Fort Adams State Park this Memorial Day weekend, honoring U.S. service members who lost their lives in the Global War on Terror.

The tribute, organized by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), opens to the public at 9 a.m. on Friday and will remain on display through the holiday weekend.

More than 7,000 military boots will be positioned across the field, each representing a fallen service member since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Every boot is adorned with an American flag and a name placard, offering a powerful visual representation of sacrifice.

The boots are arranged alphabetically by state, allowing visitors to locate and pay tribute to friends, loved ones, or comrades.

A special ceremony will be held Friday evening for Gold Star families—those who have lost a relative in military service.

Also featured at the event is the “Invisible Scars of War” Monument, dedicated to military members who died by suicide due to the lasting effects of combat-related trauma such as PTSD and depression.

Launched in 2016, the memorial has become a meaningful tradition in Rhode Island, serving as a powerful reminder of the true cost of war and the importance of remembrance.