Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial travels out of state for first time

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — For the first time since it started, the Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial had a Veterans Day ceremony and did it out of state, at Gillette Stadium.

The memorial is displayed at Fort Adams State Park in Newport each Memorial Day, but the organization has been expanding.

On Friday, Operation Stand Down Rhode Island partnered with the Patriots organization and hosted their first ever Veterans Day memorial.

“For the first time ever we are excited to present the full display of Boots on the Ground for Heroes memorial outside of Memorial day and outside of the state of Rhode Island,” founder of Boots on the Ground for Heroes Dee DeQuattro said.

With more than 7,000 boots on the ground, there was a ceremony for New England’s Gold Star families Friday morning.

Each family placed a rose in their fallen hero’s boot.

“As we always say, without the military and what they do, protecting our freedom and protecting our values and values of democracy, there would be no tailgates here on a Sunday afternoon,” Josh Kraft, President of New England Patriots Foundation, said.

For one Rhode Island veteran and native, seeing the memorial travel to Gillette Stadium surprised him.

“Right now it is really overwhelming,” Carl Henderson of Westerly said. “It is a great tribute to us guys. I have been in the military for 22 years and they always say that they don’t see people from Rhode Island and here we are. This is a great way to talk about the guys who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

The memorial here is open to the public Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.