May 17, 2024
Carry The Load looks to honor fallen veterans and first responders with walk across the country
By: Jason Freund
DALLAS, Texas — Memorial Day is only a couple weeks away and the group known as Carry The Load is hoping to inspire folks to remember the real reason to honor Memorial Day.
They are a group that honors all first responders and veterans across the country. However, when the calendar gets closer to Memorial Day, Carry The Load begins their walk across the nation.
“Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have fallen, those who have been killed in action and died in the line of duty," said Colton Morrow, the president of the West Coast Relay Team. "Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate our veterans. We love our veterans but memorial day is for the ones who didn't come home.”
The group was initially founded by Clint Bruce and Stephen Holly, two former Navy Seals. Back in 2011, Bruce returned from a tour of duty and he felt that his fallen friends hadn't been getting the proper respect they deserved on Memorial Day.
He made the choice to go for a run, a decision that would change the direction of his life.
"He decided that he wanted to put on a backpack and go for a ruck march, which is a common thing in the military," Morrow said. "He went for a walk around White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas and this old World War Two veteran stopped him and and noticed he had something on his mind. He said 'son, who are you carrying? Who is on your mind?' That's where our tagline came from."
To "Carry The load" is to remember a loved one who was a veteran or loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Anyone can participate as well. Bibs are available to sign, along with a flag that will be carried throughout the walk.
There are currently five teams walking all throughout the country with a similar goal.
Morrow was a former first-responder himself and leads the West Coast team. He carries the load for his friend who sat side-by-side with him in the ambulances.
“Eric Hill was a great friend of mine, a best friend. He was my dad's partner on the ambulance, and then he was my partner on the ambulance," Morrow said. "Just an awesome guy who helped me fix everything that I needed. We were always hanging out so I carried Eric Hill with me.”
Thanks to groups like Carry The Load, no fallen first responder or veteran will be forgotten.
“We like to paraphrase Ernest Hemingway and say a man dies two deaths. One when you take your last breath, which is inevitable, and two when the last person says your name for the last time," Morrow said. "These heroes that we honor do not deserve to die a second death.”
Eventually, Morrow and his team will make it to Dallas for a pre-Memorial Day celebration.
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