Bethesda Maryland, April 2, 2024. Amid the buzz of voices in the expansive lobby at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, people embrace in reunion. The space is filled with volunteers, sponsors, active military personnel, former patients, families, and artists coming together.
The founders of iPads For Soldiers have been tirelessly working with military center administration in preparation of the dedication of “Footsteps to Freedom,” a permanent installation in the entrance of the nation’s largest military medical center. In the lobby stands a striking sculpture: a literal and metaphoric testament to the bravery and sacrifice of US soldiers. Custom designed glass cubes framed with brass are stacked in a double-sided staircase ascending upward. Inside of each cube are used boots that served as the canvases for artists who variously painted, etched and decorated them in thanks and honor to American soldiers. These tributes of love and gratitude are the culmination of a ten-year effort by iPadsforsoldiers.
How it all Started
iPads for Soldiers was co-founded in 2009 by Winnie Pritchett and Amy Zambrano when Winnie’s son Captain Wes Pritchett, a recent West Point graduate and Kiowa helicopter pilot was deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Winnie asked what could they do to help support the soldiers? Wes recounted how many of the soldiers had limited access to the internet and cellphones, and that instruction manuals and books added even more weight to their already heavy 110-pound rucksacks. The idea of sending the soldiers a tablet became a lifeline, allowing them to lighten their loads, stay connected, informed and supported.
Initial distribution of the iPads came through chaplaincy departments, and with immediate requests for more, it became apparent this small grassroots effort was answering a real need. They quickly modified their model to include wounded soldiers located in medical centers throughout the US. Both active duty and recovering soldiers used the devices to record their stories, write their diaries, write letters home, make films, and connect with loved ones.
Narrative Spaces
If you were to imagine a perfect narrative machine, the iPads were it. They were light and easy to carry, and functioned as third object transports for the soldiers -- handheld virtual spaces filled with emotional support, and the oppotunity to read, to write and reflect.
(Part of the collection, bottom left is marked in groups of five the numbers killed, the boots on the right were dipped in gold as an alternative medal in honor of the fallen.)
The Boots
The boot detail emerged in 2010 with the objective of collecting the used soldiers boots from those who received an iPad and repurposing them as art objects. Boxes started arriving: “boots caked with sand, with holes, and sometimes even spattered with blood. Sometimes there would be a note, a story, even dog tags slipped inside.” iPads for Solders noted at the time that "every boot had a story to tell.” More than 100 artists came forward to donate their time and talent to continue the storytelling, including Shepard Fairey, Romero Brito, street artists, tattoo artists and art teachers. In 2015 the exhibit first opened to acclaim at Miami’s Art Basel.
Program Part I
In a packed room LCDR Jessica Hann NC, USN Department of Chief, Warrior & Family Coordination Cell, opened the dedication followed by CAPT Melissa Austin, MC, USN Director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and remarks from iPads for Soldiers co-founders Amy Zambrano and Winnie Pritchett.
Building Momentum
Through the years corporate sponsors joined the iPads for Soldiers effort, and they too were in attendance, including Investors Trust, United Capital Markets, and Diageo. As of today, iPads For Soldiers continues to deliver tablets and support to those wounded in action and to active-duty forces serving worldwide from Africa, the Middle East, to the Far East. And to date they've distributed over 10,500 tablets.
Getting Involved
I first heard about iPads for Soldiers in 2010 through my dearest friend. We were compelled by their mission., and joined in, donating, fundraising, and with early visits to Walter Reed.
(Visiting Walter Reed, Key Biscayne fundraiser)
Hospital stays for the wounded varied, lasting anywhere from months to years. The smell and feel of medical facilities are universal and have an ability to trigger many of our deepest moments of grief, pain, and hope. When I walked into the soldiers rooms I felt both profound understanding and connection to their stories.
Sacrifice and Courage
These soldiers had encountered everything from burns, amputations, to traumatic brain injuries and more. I felt communion with those who had sacrificed so much and were trying to rebuild and navigate entirely new lives. I too had endured devastating catastrophic wounds during the 9/11 terror attacks. I suffered extensive burns and amputations and spent more than half a year in an ICU and rehabilitation hospital with countless trips back for additional surgeries. It took years of struggle and determination before I was able to resume an approximation of a more normalized life.
Program Part II “In These Boots”
The dedication program continued with a reading — “In These Boots” by MSG Andrew Burge, USA. Burge penned the note on a slip of paper he left tucked into one of his boots during an active tour. His powerful words echoed in the vast space to a hushed audience.
Bringing it Home
The keynote delivered by double amputee and Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient MSG Cedric King, (Ret.). It was a triumphant story of determination. An IED explosion had caused the loss of both of King’s legs above the knees and left him with a crippled arm and hand injuries. At the tme of King's arrival to Walter Reed, he was physically and emotionally devastated by the extent of his wounds,. An early recipient of an iPad, KIng credited the device with turning his life around. The tablet gave him a window into the shared stories of others who had encountered double amputations. Reading and watching their epic journeys of struggle and recovery radically changed his perspective. Cedric King is a living example of the power of shared storytelling and the impact it can have on others.
(MSG King (Ret.) flanked by military personal, co-founders Winnie Pritchett and Amy Zambrano among other supporters cutting the opening ribbon)
iPads for Soldiers found success through passionate supporters and creative efforts using two different mediums - the tablet, and repurposed boots both illustrate the storytelling power found in these incidental and artful messengers.
(Me with MSG Cedric King (Ret.), on the left and MSG Andrew Burges USA on the right)
At the core of all narrative practice forms regardless of the delivery mechanism are compelling opportunities for reauthoring tragedy, transformation, and the chance to bring healing and joy to both our own lives and those of others.
