6,000 combat boots needed to line race route in memory of war dead

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COURTESY FISHER HOUSE
Combat boots are needed to line the Ford Island bridge Saturday for the Tripler Memorial Run, which is held in tribute to soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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COURTESY FISHER HOUSE
Courtesy Fisher House A pair of boots memorializing Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kraig Vickers, a graduate of Maui High School who was killed in Afghanistan last year, will be among thousands lining the route of the 8K Hero and Remembrance Run, Walk or Roll on Saturday.

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The Tripler Fisher House needs old combat boots, and it needs them now.

The nonprofit "home away from home" program for families and patients receiving medical care at Tripler Army Medical Center is holding the "8K Hero and Remembrance Run, Walk or Roll" on Saturday.

Part of the plan is to have more than 6,000 pairs of boots lining the Ford Island bridge along the run route to represent U.S. service members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I don’t think people realize how enormous this loss is," said Tripler Fisher House Manager Theresa Johnson, noting that the boots will make people realize how many service members were killed.

But as of last week Fisher House had only about 1,000 pairs — a lot of smelly old footwear, to be sure, but far short of the goal.

"We really need to push to tell people we’re still collecting them," Johnson said. If it’s necessary to borrow and return combat boots, the organization will, she said.

Small individual photos of the fallen service members have been made to go with each set of boots, along with a small American flag. Some have penned a name, unit and other information on the footwear.

"We want to make sure that every service member is honored," Johnson said.

To make a boot contribution, temporary or permanent, Johnson can be reached at 561-7423. Those with access to Tripler also can drop off boots at Fisher House.

The 7 a.m. run/walk is free and open to the public, Johnson said. Pre-registration must be completed at www.active.com/donate/TriplerFisherHouse/2012RemembranceRun.

The run will start and end near the Pacific Aviation Museum, with a U-turn near the Kamehameha Highway end of the bridge.

Among the Hawaii service members who will be remembered are Mililani High School graduate Army Cpl. Toby Olsen, 28, who was killed in 2007 along with three other soldiers in Iraq, and Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kraig Vickers, a 1992 Maui High School graduate who was killed when the Chinook helicopter he was in was hit and went down in eastern Afghanistan in 2011.

Attending "Gold Star" families who lost a loved one will be recognized at 6:30 a.m. before the race, Johnson said.

At least one Fisher House is located at every major military medical center, providing lodging for military families while a relative is in medical care.

The Tripler Fisher House, which can host up to 19 families at once, provides services for almost 200 families a year, Johnson said.