I stood in my brothers’ bedroom less than 24 hours after he took his final breath in that very spot. Its not something you can articulate with words very well, my head was filled with so many questions and yet felt empty, my body felt heavy and my soul as if it had been smashed into thousands of pieces. I couldn’t take my eyes off of his boots, his Tanker Boots that stood on display, almost as if they were proud. I picked them up and in my head I said, I will one day start something to honor Josh, to honor all who have served, all who have worn a uniform of sacrifice and it will be called Josh’s Boots. You see those boots told a story, they told of where he had been, the journey there and back. The stains told of what he had encountered, the spills along the way, the accidents. The soles were worn down in certain areas because of his step and the pressure he carried. All of us can identify with Josh’s Boots, we each have a journey, have each encountered mishaps and we each have our own stride and foot print we leave for others to see. Lets keep moving forward, honoring those who fought as hard and as long as they could in their journeys- let us honor second chance we have been given to continue- and let us extend our hands into the darkness where others wait for the light we carry. 

So others may live,
 
President and Founder,
Amanda Braga-Tipton