Operation Hero held a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, to open the inaugural Utah’s Fallen First Responders Boot Display at the Layton Hills Mall. The display serves to recognize Utah first responders who have lost their lives since 9/11.
The display features approximately 56 boots representing police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, dispatchers, and other professionals from across the state. Antoinette Stapley, the founder of Operation Hero, stated that the collection honors those who passed away whether it was in the line of duty or not. The display also includes acknowledgments for fallen K-9s from the same timeframe.
Stapley noted that the boots are not arranged by agency or department. This design choice was intentional to show that while roles differ, all responders share a commitment to serving the community. The organization's motto for the display is to say their name, tell their story, and remember them all.
During the ceremony, Brian Sorensen spoke about his late brother, Jason Sorensen, who served as a Davis County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a LifeFlight paramedic and pilot until his death in 2020. Sorensen described his brother as someone who lived his life serving others and making a difference.
Operation Hero has conducted military boot displays across Utah for nearly 11 years, but this marks the organization's first display specifically commemorating fallen first responders. Stapley expressed a desire for the public to learn the specific stories of these responders and their families.
Operation Hero founder Antoinette Stapley encouraged the public to visit the organization's website to submit additional names of first responders who have died, noting that the current display does not include every name from the last 25 years. The Utah’s Fallen First Responders Boot Display will remain on display at the Layton Hills Mall through Sunday.
The display at Layton Hills Mall is scheduled to continue through Sunday.
