Bootprints: Their Service Continues

Bootprints exists to honor the legacy of military veterans who have passed away by preserving their personal book collections and transforming them into ongoing sources of support for active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. Through each collection entrusted to us by their families, we ensure that a veteran’s love of learning, service, and storytelling continues to make an impact—long after their lifetime.

Books for Boots is deeply honored to launch this program as a way to preserve these legacies and extend their service into the lives of those currently serving. 

The Bootprints program is built as a lasting tribute to veterans whose lives of service deserve to be remembered and carried forward. By receiving and preserving book collections from families of deceased veterans, we give new life to the stories, knowledge, and values those books once represented.

Each collection becomes a bridge between generations of service - connecting the memory of a veteran’s life with those currently serving. In this way, their influence continues in a meaningful, practical way: offering encouragement, education, comfort, and connection to today’s military community.

Bootprints also provides families with a meaningful way to honor their loved ones. Rather than allowing personal libraries to be dispersed or forgotten, these collections become part of a living legacy - one that continues to serve others in uniform.

Through this program, we strengthen the bond between past and present service members, expand access to uplifting and educational materials for troops, and ensure that each veteran’s story continues to matter in a tangible way.

At its heart, Bootprints is about continuation - not loss. It is about preserving what was loved, honoring who they were, and extending their impact into the lives of those still serving today.

The first official Bootprints recognition honors Mr. Maddie, a veteran whose personal book collection was generously entrusted by his family after his passing. His collection marks the beginning of this initiative, ensuring that his love of books, learning, and service continues to reach and support those currently serving. His legacy now lives on through every book shared in his name.

The afternoon of April 25th was a truly special and humbling time for Books for Boots. We had the honor of picking up hundreds of military history books from the personal collection of Joseph Victor Maddie, an avid reader whose love for books was well known by those who loved him. His family shared that books were always at the top of his wish list for birthdays and holidays - a testament to a lifelong passion for reading and learning.

Mr. Maddie was also an American hero. At just 17 years old, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Korean War, fighting at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. This battle is widely remembered as one of the fiercest and most significant engagements in Marine Corps history, where Marines faced brutal winter conditions, overwhelming enemy forces, and impossible odds - yet fought their way to safety with extraordinary courage and resilience. The Korean War itself is often called “The Forgotten War,” but the bravery of those who served should never be forgotten.

Beyond his military service, Mr. Maddie was remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose kindness, humor, and compassion touched so many lives. His infectious smile and ability to never meet a stranger left a lasting impact on everyone around him.

We are deeply honored to have met his daughters today and to be entrusted with carrying forward his treasured book collection. These books will now continue their journey by bringing comfort and joy to the veterans, service members, and injured recruits that we serve. In his absence, his books now continue the spirit of service that defined his life.

Thank you, Mr. Maddie, for your service, your legacy, and your love of books. 

Semper Fi Good Sir. 

This connection happened well before our Bootprints initiative but we would like to honor this Marine on our Bootprints page.

In late September 2024, we had the extreme privilege of picking up books donated by a sister of a Marine veteran who had passed away almost three years ago. His sister shared his story with us, and with her permission, we are honored to share with you. His name is withheld at her request. 

Staff Sergeant "SSgt" served as a United States Marine for 16 years. He was originally an Infantryman and earned several different MOS's including, MSG and Intelligence Interrogation during his years of service. He held distinguished appointments as a U.S. Presidential MSG, (Marine Security Guard), London Embassy MSG, and MSG for the Amir of Kuwait in Jeddah, Kuwait. 

While he served in the US Gulf War he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy/Marine Corps Medal for above and beyond heroism. SSgt was also a very endeared and weekly Life-long Volunteer for the Monastery of the Poor Clares as well as, a Life-long VFW and American Legion member. 

After his illustrious and distinguished career with the USMC, SSgt joined the Police Force for the Supreme Court of the United States, where he worked for 22 years up until the day of his passing. He was a dedicated & decorated Officer who participated in many various training sessions with the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security, the FBI, and many other Federal and Metro law enforcement agencies.

His sister told us of his funeral and how shortly after his passing, there was a large memorial and beautiful tribute of past and present staff and Law Enforcement Officers gathered in the upstairs of the United States Supreme Court and a funeral day procession outside the Supreme Court was that held in his honor. Federal and Metro Law Enforcement Officers from many different agencies barricaded the outlining Washington D.C. streets for the funeral procession egress. Supreme Court Civilian Staff, as well as  Federal and Metro Law Enforcement Officers lined First Street in front of the Supreme Courthouse during the procession in the pouring rain to pay their respects to SSgt. 

He was a voracious and avid reader and book collector. He lived a life of complete service to God and his faith and never walked away from an opportunity to help others, regardless of the situation or circumstances. He was truly a man for others. 

On a final note, his sister shared with us that she was very emotional and overwhelmed by preparing for this donation, but she fully believed that her actions were what her brother would have wanted and that he is thanking and giving her an a commendation from heaven. It is what she felt that God and her brother guided her to do. 

SSgt continues to serve posthumously in that his collection of approximately 500 books, of which are mostly military and Marine related, will be passed on to injured recruits and additional military members that we serve. We are beyond grateful for his sisters consideration of donating his book collection to our cause and know that they will be well read for years to come.

Semper Fi, SSgt.