PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island-based branch of Operation Stand Down hosted its first Boots on the Ground Memorial last weekend as the nation marked Memorial Day.
The event, which lasted from 5 p.m. May 27 to 4 p.m. May 30, honored U.S. military service members killed in action during the war on terrorism. To signify each death the organization placed a boot, with the name of the deceased and an American flag, in the field adjacent to the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park. In all, there were 6,844 boots on display throughout the weekend.
A formal ceremony was held May 28 in which Sgt. Maj. Todd Parisi, a retired Marine who served a total of 28 years including seven tours, three to Iraq, and three years as the casualty assistance call officer for 10 Rhode Island families, delivered a keynote address.
For the past nine months OSDRI has been collecting boots for the memorial and last week more than 100 volunteers laced the boots and arranged them in the display at Roger Williams Park. According to the organization, this is the largest memorial put on by a nonprofit in New England.
The event was sponsored by Seasons Markey, Walmart, Cardi’s Furniture, Citizens Bank, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, The Warwick Mall, IHeartMedia and Home Depot.
