The premier evening welcomed hundreds of guests for an evening of live country music, auctions, and remembrance honoring the legacies of America’s fallen heroes
COLLEGE GROVE, TN (Sept. 24, 2026) — Memories of Honor’s The Boot Bash returned to The Grove Golf Club in College Grove, TN, on Thursday, September 24th, drawing hundreds of guests for a premier evening in support of Memories of Honor’s Boots of Honor Memorial and the Music Remembers Project. Trading black-tie suits for cowboy boots, attendees enjoyed intimate country music sets, top-shelf liquor, chef-curated tapas, and live and silent auctions in support of the organization’s mission to honor America’s fallen heroes and the families left behind. Guests also gathered at the Fireside Lounge, an outdoor retreat featuring curated tastings and offerings from the evening’s featured brands.
The evening raised $73,615, with an additional major gift still expected. One hundred percent of proceeds will directly support Memories of Honor, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit responsible for preserving and maintaining the Boots of Honor Memorial, where nearly 8,000 combat boots represent predominantly post-9/11 military loss of life. Proceeds will also support the Music Remembers Project, which honors families of fallen heroes through the power of music.
Guests also had the opportunity to walk through a powerful mini memorial featuring approximately 75 individual combat boots from the actual Boots of Honor Memorial — offering an intimate glimpse into the scale and human cost represented by the full display.
In one of the evening’s most emotional moments, Memories of Honor partnered with Mechanics on a Mission to surprise a Vietnam War veteran with the keys to a new vehicle — a tangible token of gratitude for his service and sacrifice.
The evening also carried forward the mission of the Music Remembers Project, with Memories of Honor presenting custom Gibson Gives guitars in honor of PFC Logan White, SSG Benjamin Arnell, SGT Houston Tumlin, and SPC Anthony Chad Owens. In recognition of the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and with the blessing of Tumlin’s mother, Houston’s guitar was presented to actor and musician Grayson Russell, who played Ricky Bobby’s younger son, Texas Ranger, opposite Houston as Walker.
Held as an officially sanctioned America250 event partner and marking the solemn 25th anniversary month of 9/11, The Boot Bash featured acoustic performances from country hitmakers Darryl Worley, Shane Minor, Navy veteran Brooks Herring, Aaron Nichols, and Noah Hunton. The evening brought together the community for an unforgettable night of southern charm in celebration of the sacrifices made by the nation’s bravest heroes.
Memories of Honor CEO and Founder Amy Cotta said, “Honoring and remembering our fallen is a responsibility we all share. It is our mission at Memories of Honor, and I believe it is America’s responsibility to carry their names and stories forward.
“A guitar is just wood and strings until it is placed in the hands of a fallen hero’s family. Then it becomes a family heirloom — something they can hold, play, and pass down. Through Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar program, each family also received a year of online lessons, helping turn that gift into a living connection.
It is a true honor and privilege to serve these families. We simply could not do this work without the support of Gibson Gives and a community that continues to show up, stand beside these families, and help us make sure their heroes are never forgotten.”
To learn more about Memories of Honor’s year-round programs or to support the Boots of Honor Memorial and Music Remembers Project, visit MemoriesofHonor.org.
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Photo Credit Tony McVaney
ABOUT BOOTS OF HONOR:
Boots of Honor Memorial is an annual exhibit of 7,970 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:
Music Remembers Project honors fallen service members through the universal language of music. The project began in 2019 with the support of Charlie Daniels, who helped create meaningful experiences for surviving military families through concert tickets, meet-and-greets, and shared moments of remembrance.
Today, Gibson Gives is helping carry that legacy forward by placing custom guitars into the hands of families of the fallen — transforming music into a lasting connection to the heroes they love and remember.
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.
