Shoes Help Bring Some Peace to Afghanistan...

I received an email from a military mom in late October 2010 because her son, Staff Sargeant Beaudrie of the 2/101 Airborne, told her of the conditions in the villages near his post. As a gesture of goodwill and to possibly promote peaceful relations between the soldiers and the Afghan people, her son wanted to get some shoes sent to him to distribute to the children.

As I read her email account of her son’s story of the distribution in the little village, I am absolutely humbled by the fact that not only were the shoes needed desperately for the children’s safety, health and well-being, but they were indeed an instrument of peace between the soldiers and the villagers.

Staff Sergeant Beaudrie asked the children (with the help of an interpreter) to line up in an “L” shape so everyone could see, and let 3 children at a time come up and pick out new shoes. As word got out, more children showed up to receive a new pair of shoes and meet the new “Hero” of the village, the American soldier bringing the gift of shoes. These shoes were brought to the village children, the forgotten ones in all of the conflict during the war in Afghanistan, and although some of the parents and children were skeptical of this offering, afterwards they were clearly delighted with their new shoes.

Although some of the commanding officers were not in favor of the idea of distributing shoes, as they watched through their telescopes from afar, they were surprised at how peaceful and orderly it was, gaining new respect for the Staff Sergeant that coordinated this effort. Because of the gift of shoes, the villagers now have more trust in the soldiers as well. Staff Sergeant Beaudrie is now known as the “Humanitarian” by his comrades.


All Because of Shoes...maybe a pair of shoes can change a life, AND change the world too.