Fundraiser for the Boots of Honor Memorial
FRANKLIN, TN (Aug. 21, 2026) — Memories of Honor’s The Boot Bash returns to The Grove Golf Club in College Grove, TN, on Thursday, September 24th. The premier event serves as a key fundraiser for Memories of Honor’s Boots of Honor Memorial and the Music Remembers Project. Trading black-tie suits for cowboy boots, the evening will feature intimate country music sets, top-shelf liquor, chef-curated tapas, and live and silent auctions as attendees support the organization’s mission to honor America’s fallen heroes and the families left behind. The event will also feature the Fireside Lounge for all attendees — an inviting outdoor retreat where guests can gather, discover featured brands, and enjoy curated tastings and other special offerings.
One hundred percent of event proceeds directly fund Memories of Honor, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit driving the critical preservation and maintenance of the Boots of Honor Memorial — the exhibition where nearly 8,000 combat boots represent predominantly post-9/11 military loss of life, with plans underway to expand the monument to honor those lost before 9/11. The Boot Bash proceeds will also fund The Music Remembers Project — which honors families of fallen heroes through the power of music. Both the Boots of Honor Memorial and the Music Remembers Project powerfully honor the legacy of America’s fallen heroes.
Serving as an officially sanctioned event partner of America250 and marking the solemn 25th anniversary month of 9/11, The Boot Bash will feature acoustic performances from country hitmakers Darryl Worley, Shane Minor, Navy veteran Brooks Herring, Butter & Grit, Aaron Nichols, and Noah Hunton. The evening will feature premium food and drinks alongside a VIP Tasting Experience, exclusive for VIP guests. An evening packed full of southern charm, The Boot Bash will be a night of celebration to honor the sacrifices made by the nation’s bravest heroes.
Memories of Honor CEO and Founder Amy Cotta said, “The Boot Bash allows us to turn remembrance into action. By coming together to honor our fallen heroes, we can create a lasting impact for Gold Star families.”
Tickets and VIP tables are available at http://thebootbash.com.
ABOUT BOOTS OF HONOR:
The Boots of Honor Memorial is an annual exhibit of 7,470 combat boots — one for every service member lost—that transforms any space it inhabits into hallowed ground. Originally
housed on military bases, the memorial made its Tennessee debut in the heart of Franklin in the summer of 2026, carried here by the hands of logistics partner Jones Logistics with the same care and reverence the boots deserve. To walk its rows is to feel the full weight of sacrifice—not as a
statistic, but as a name, a story, a life. Because the cost of freedom isn’t counted in numbers. It’s
counted in the names of those lost—and the weight carried by those left behind.
ABOUT THE MUSIC REMEMBERS PROJECT:
The Music Remembers Project honors fallen service members through the universal language of music. In partnership with the legendary Charlie Daniels Band since 2019, it gifts guitars to Gold Star military families and creates intimate gatherings where live music, storytelling, and shared remembrance bring communities together—proving that memories live forever when carried in song.
ABOUT MEMORIES OF HONOR:
Founded in 2014 by Blue Star USMC mother Amy Cotta, Memories of Honor is a national
501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Franklin, Tennessee, dedicated to the mission of making every day
Memorial Day. The organization was born from a singular act of remembrance at Ironman
Chattanooga, where Cotta ran a marathon in combat boots and a weighted pack to honor the
fallen. Today, that mission is guided by three core pillars—Honor, Heal, and Connect—ensuring
that no fallen service member is forgotten and no surviving family grieves in isolation.
Through a unique blend of athletics, music, and living memorials, Memories of Honor integrates
the legacies of the fallen into the fabric of everyday American life. Key initiatives include the
Memorial Day 365™ year-round remembrance program, the Music Remembers Project, the
Boots of Honor Memorial, and Project Epic Forward, the endurance-focused fitness retreats. By
shifting the focus from statistics to individual stories, the organization honors the true cost of
freedom and provides a supportive community for those left behind.
Learn more at MemoriesofHonor.org.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Tori Sims, tori@triple7pr.com
Ryleigh Green, ryleigh@triple7pr.com