SPOKANE — The Washington State Fallen Heroes Project set up their “Boots on the Ground” memorial at the Numerica Veteran’s Arena to honor Vietnam and post-9/11 veterans who died in action.
Nearly 700 boots were displayed at the event, each one honoring a local veteran who gave everything serving their country.
“Our goal is to bring the community in just to see and remember and spend a little time acknowledging those who gave their lives for us,” said Keirsten Lyons, Washington State Fallen Heroes Project director. “And at the same time all of the volunteers are Gold Star surviving families and so it’s that fellowship…that shared experience that really helps you get through the tough times.”
Gold Star families are those who have lost immediate family members in military service. For these families, the event provides a place for healing and connection with others who share similar experiences.
Tammie McConkey, a Gold Star mother who lost her son Josh just over a decade ago, spoke about the importance of the memorial. “To do something formal like this is just wonderful,” McConkey said. “It gives us another place to meet with other Gold Star families and share great memories…so it means a lot to be able to go and share those experiences with the other Gold Star families.”
McConkey explained that the grief remains difficult even after many years. “Josh has been gone 11 and a half years…or yesterday…because that’s how it feels,” she said. “It’s never going to be easy…but it gets a little easier each year and with each other Gold Star family member that comes and says ‘I know…I lost a son as well…I know what you’re going through.'”
Each boot and photograph displayed allows Gold Star families to keep their loved ones’ memories alive and ensure they are never forgotten.
McConkey shared why continuing to honor fallen veterans matters so much to families. “There’s a saying that a soldier dies twice…once when he leaves this earth and the other time when you stop saying his name,” she said. “And we will never stop saying Josh’s name…and every time we come here we say his name…because he’s not dead…we’re just waiting to see him again.”
The memorial allows the community to remember local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice while providing Gold Star families with support through their shared experiences of loss.
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