An army of empty boots in a company of sorrow

Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 10, 2006 at midnight

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The rows of worn-out combat boots still bring tears to Karen Meredith's eyes, even though she's seen them several times.

On Monday, Meredith walked by each pair of boots, paused, looked at the name tags and photos on many of them, read the short biographies and moved to the next pair.

The 2,744 old boots are part of an exhibit called "Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War," which represents U.S. military deaths in Iraq since the war began, more than three years ago.

It will be up from dawn to dusk through Wednesday in Civic Center. It is free to the public.

The boots are arranged in alphabetical order by state. Small flags poke out of some of them. Teddy bears, flowers and mementos surround others.

Meredith, who traveled from California to speak at the opening of the exhibit, placed a box of pumpkin- shaped marshmallow Peeps next to the boots with her son's name, 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard. She has traveled to six cities to see the exhibit, she said.

"His name shouldn't be on an empty pair of boots. It should be on postcards or on letters," she said, tears falling down her cheeks.

The exhibit has traveled to more than 80 cities since it opened with 504 pairs of boots in January 2004 in Chicago's Federal Plaza, said Marq Anderson, tour manager. Colorado is the last destination for the complete exhibit in 2006.

Another part of the exhibit features hundreds of tennis shoes, children's sandals and high heels dedicated to Iraqi civilians.

During a news briefing, Gaye Lowe, of Wheat Ridge, addressed the crowd.

Her son, a Marine serving in Iraq, is scheduled to return home in the summer.

"Had our son never become a Marine, I would not have known the pride and terror a mother feels when her child is willing to put his life on the line for what he believed, at the time, to be an honorable cause," Lowe said.

Among the boots on display, she said, were those of a 19-year-old Illinois Marine who died in her son's arms.

The exhibit is scheduled Thursday and Friday to travel to Colorado Springs, where the boots may not get a very warm reception.

The City Council already rejected a request to hold the exhibit on city grounds, saying it undermines soldiers. Instead, Colorado College will host it at 14 E. Cache La Poudre St.

Volunteers don't see the display as an anti-war exhibit but as an opportunity for local people to pay their respects to U.S. soldiers who have died.

"Let the exhibit speak for itself," said Sondra Tilsley, 45, of Denver.

Another volunteer, Jane Grogan, 49, of Centennial, added, "This reminds us that they're people, not just numbers."

If you go

• The exhibit will be on display from dawn to dusk through Wednesday in Civic Center. It is free to the public.

• A silent candlelight vigil is planned at 7 tonight in Civic Center.

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