Operation Stand Down RI is bringing back its Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial to Fort Adams State Park this Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26.
The powerful display features over 7,000 combat boots, each one representing a U.S. service member who lost their life in the Global War on Terror since 9/11.
Every boot has a flag and placard showing details about the fallen hero – their name, photo, personal information, military branch, rank, and how they died.
The memorial is updated each year to include any additional U.S. service members killed in the ongoing conflict.
Visitors can easily find specific fallen heroes, as the boots are arranged alphabetically and by state and U.S. territory.
For its first three years, the memorial was set up at Roger Williams Park in Providence. In 2019, it moved to its current location at Fort Adams.
Last year, the memorial was also displayed at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, during Veterans Day Weekend.
The public can visit the memorial from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 23-25, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 26. There’s no charge for admission.
Several sponsors have made the 2025 Veterans Day display at Fort Adams possible, including AMGEN, The Tilley Family, Seasons Corner Market, Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses, Corvias, and IGT.