Boots display to represent sexual assault awareness

Since 2008, the Joint Service Sexual Assault Response Team has responded to 55 cases of sexual assault in the Denver-metro area. With less than one in five cases of sexual assault reported, this represents more than 275 military-related cases of sexual assault in the Denver area alone. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Phillip Houk/Released)

Published April 16, 2013
By Senior Airman Phillip Houk
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- More than 50 pairs of boots will be placed in front of the base headquarters building April 18-19 to highlight Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

"The idea behind the boots display is for a pair of boots to represent a survivor of sexual assault," said Peggy Moore-McCoy, 460th Space Wing sexual assault response coordinator.

There have been 55 cases of sexual assault reported by Team Buckley and the Colorado National Guard, since 2008, according to the Joint Service Sexual Assault Response Team.

"I hope everybody on Team Buckley will be impacted by this exhibit," said McCoy, "and will come to see how sexual assault actually affects our military."

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center the goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness of sexual violence and to educate individuals and communities to encourage prevention.

"Someone giving you a number, say 50 people, makes many people say what's the big deal five years and only 50 people," said McCoy. "However when you consider that less than one in five cases report, that means we have 250 victims with only 50 reported.

"That means we have a lot of walking wounded," she said.