Fifth Annual Empty Boot Display Commemorates Military Sacrifice In Tulsa Veterans Park

This Memorial Day, Gold Star families, friends, and military members from past and the present are remembering more than 500 heroic men and women from Oklahoma who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The 'Field of Heroes Program' hosted its fifth-annual, weekend-long empty boot display across from VFW Post 577.

The memorial in Tulsa's Veterans Park originally started out honoring post 9/11 veterans who lost their lives.

It now honors nearly 200 Vietnam vets and a handful of WWII and Korea vets as well.

Each pair of boots, all 550, represent one of Oklahoma's fallen soldiers standing in formation.

"His men, because he was a staff sergeant knew him differently. They knew him as a man. They knew him as a leader. They looked up to him. I've learned since he's died of the man that he was. Not just my baby boy,” said Cindy Huse, Gold Star Mom.

Sergeant Nick Huse joined the national guard in high school and served in Germany, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

Nick never made it to Iraq with his men.

He was killed at just 25 years old while serving state side.

"It's been a long time, but you know it's just a minute in my heart,” said Cindy Huse, Gold Star Mom. "He always wanted to be a soldier. Always. I was so proud of him. I still am."

Josh Starks said three of the boots represent soldiers who were under his command in Afghanistan, and 15 were his friends.

He made promises to those he stood alongside.

This is his way of keeping those promises.

"They're here because I got to come home,” said 1st Lt. Josh Starks, OK National Guard.

He and Shannon Lucas organized the empty boot display for everyone including families, friends, and fellow veterans.

“Being able to acknowledge their loss and provide them a place that is healthy for them to gather,” said Shannon Lucas, Field of Heroes Coordinator.

They said you can have fun on Memorial Day, but just remember who made that possible.

“This is a day for the families that have a missing chair at the table every Christmas. Every thanksgiving. They live with the sacrifice day in, day out,” said 1LT Josh Starks, OK National Guard.

“Just stop and think of them and say thank you,” said Cindy Huse, Gold Star Mom.

Boot donations are collected all year round at the VFWs, Oklahoma National Guard Armories and at Patriot Family Counseling Services.

The more boot donations they gather the more heroes they can honor.