VFW: Boots banter

Aug 02, 2023

Believe it or not, boots can be an interesting subject, especially as they have been around since forever! If you don’t believe that, look back on pictures from the 19th century, as there were many different types of boots, both for men and women. Many of the boots for men were the rugged outdoor type which would withstand trudging in lots of dirt as well as sand and water. The boots women wore back then were high tops, laced and in case of a bit of wind, would cover their ankles so no one could get a glimpse of them (Heaven forbid if that happened!).

As any western movie or daguerreo types would prove, boots worn out west were made of tough leather and definitely went some inches above the ankles one way to help protect the wearer from snakebite. Many pairs of the cowboy boots were decorative, and had spurs dangling from the backs. I’m betting the horses didn’t care for the spurs!

As time went on, the dandies from the cities got away from wearing boots as did the ladies, going for more stylish footwear unless they became residents of the Midwest and far northwest where boots were needed to protect one’s feet from snow. A lot of those boots also had fur around the top, but the fur didn’t do much to help keep toes warm. I know that from many years of personal experience!

The 60’s saw a rise of fashionable boots, thanks to John, George, Paul & Ringo. Even Dave Clark and Mick Jagger got on that bandwagon and a bit later, Nancy Sinatra let the world know “her boots were made for walkin”. Gogo dancers had on mini shorts with knee high boots to parade on the dance floors. As hemlines rose, so did the height of the boot , some of which ended up as high as the knees.

While the ages have seen a lot of boot fashion, the most important ones are called boondockers and are given to any person who enters their military boot camp. These boondockers are made to last, and need to be broken in so as to serve the owner through many days of training. Once broken in, they are an extension of the military form. When used to march in cadence, they must be highly polished to go along with an immaculate uniform. Breaking them in requires many hours of hiking, and wearing several thick pairs of socks! Eventually, the boondockers become more comfortable than any pair of slippers.

Many of these important boots have been on the ground across the entire world in some war zone. The wearers of these boots are the true heroes of our nation and deserve a continual respect and many salutations. Only those who have had “Boots on the Ground” are eligible to become members of a VFW Post. Here at Post 4174 in Lehigh Acres, our people are proud of their Boots history and the members would be glad to tell you about their travels. Come by any day and they’ll be happy to welcome you. You’ll be glad you did!

Believe it or not, boots can be an interesting subject, especially as they have been around since forever! If you ...