May 12, 2024
Carry The load honoring fallen heros
By: Ariana Mintz
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Carry The Load made its way to Charleston. It was in Morgantown earlier Saturday and continued its 28-day trek to Dallas, Texas.
Drew Deleon is a veteran and works for fire rescue in Dallas, Texas.
He’s on an 11-day journey with Carry The Load, a national relay leading up to Memorial Day, where teams walk a combined 20,000 miles across different states honoring fallen service members.
“I’m just out here to make sure they’re not forgotten, say their names as many times as I can, tell their stories so everybody knows who they are,” said Deleon.
For Deleon, the mission behind the organization is personal as he’s walking to pay tribute and honor a dear friend.
“One of my Marine Corps brothers decided to take his own life due to mental issues back in 2015, so I got involved in 2017 to honor his memory,” Deleon said.
During their time in Charleston, they stopped at the Gold Star Memorial. The memorial, stood tall, honoring the families of servicemen and women who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Since Deleon joined, he has lost more people close to him, making the load he carries even heavier.
Their next stop is Lexington, Kentucky, as they make their way to Dallas, Texas.
For more information on their schedule, visit the Carry The Load website.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
May 11, 2024
Carry The Load’s National Relay coming to Las Vegas ahead of Memorial Day
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — People of all ages are taking a stride to honor those in a line of duty.
Carry The Load’s 14th annual Memorial May Campaign is making its mark with a National Relay through Las Vegas on Monday, May 13.
The nonprofit invites families and loved ones to take a step to remember the sacrifices of fallen heroes.
Thousands of participants will walk in the relay that spans 20,000 miles, 48 states, and 69 community events including 33 VA National Cemeteries.
MORE NEWS 3 | City of Henderson to honor veterans with Memorial Day ceremony
The National Relay starts in the upper U.S. and commences in Dallas on Memorial Day weekend.
May 11, 2024
Carry The Load relay to honor the fallen kicks off in San Diego
By: Ciara Encinas
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — We're still a couple of weeks from Memorial Day, but it's never too early to honor the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Carry The Load is a National relay rooted in bringing the true meaning of Memorial Day to light.
The San Diego stretch of the national relay that will end in Texas begins Saturday morning in La Jolla
“I’m basically thinking about the comradery of all of us here and not only about all of those who have passed but who are continuing to serve," said Wayne Wilson.
Wayne Wilson and Robyn Nolin are both veterans.
They are walking today for two people who touched their lives.
Marine Corps veteran Sergeant Jeremy Sears and Navy veteran Brian Nault.
“I think Sears would want me to have a beer in hand, but I’m staying dry right now. Thanks, Sears.”
“Brian would be like, ‘Rock on! Let’s do this. Keep going. Listen to the music and dance.’”
The Carry The Load Relay started 14 years ago.
Two Navy SEALs walked to honor their fallen brothers and sisters.
Their goal was to shine a light on the true meaning of Memorial Day.
It now spans 48 states and goes 20 20,000 miles. It will wrap up on Memorial Day.
“I was a Marine Corps infantryman. I served for four years and went on five deployments overseas. There’s a lot that goes through my mind, especially during times like this. Memorial Day is definitely huge, especially compared to many of the other dates that are out there," said
They tell other vets to check into their new unit of comradery when they choose to leave the military.
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May 10, 2024
Carry The Load: Honoring the fallen while continuing to support veterans and first responders in need
By: Kevin Reece
DALLAS — There is power and purpose in the work of Carry The Load: the non-profit in Dallas that has reminded us for more than a decade what Memorial Day is really about.
But there is also power in the diminutive stature of a mini-horse named Ranger. In fact, he could be considered an integral part of the same CTL team.
On a late April weekend in Dallas, in a horse arena at the home of the equine therapy group Equest, Ranger stood calmly and quietly as a group of veterans and volunteers practiced Yoga. And the calming influence of a horse barely four feet tall is exactly why he was there.
"Yes, the third Sunday of every month," Angela Escamilla said of the Equest Hooves for Heroes Program. "Veterans, first responders, and their families can come out and participate in our yoga class." Equest, operating for more than four decades in Dallas, provides therapeutic horsemanship programs for children and adults with cognitive, sensory, or emotional needs. The Hooves for Heroes program offers the same support for veterans, including mental health counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, therapeutic horsemanship, carriage driving, and more.
Army veteran Kara Moser is a recent Equest volunteer.
"The ability to share my feelings when they come up. Good and bad," she said while standing next to her favorite horse named Thorin, a Shire-Quarterhorse cross.
Working with him helps Moser with her anxiety and post-traumatic stress. In fact, during our interview, Thorin walked up to give Moser a reassuring nuzzle.
"I think Thorin understands that in me a lot. He senses when I need to calm down and that's when he steps up and helps me out a little bit," she said. "He can sense that I'm a little nervous. So he's like...I'm here for ya."
"I hope that they see the magical part that the horses bring," said Equest therapist Debbie Utterbach. "And that they feel connected and accepted like an extension of their family."
A connection that Kara Moser felt so strongly, that at a flag dedication ceremony that day at Equest, she volunteered to read a portion of her story to the crowd of veterans, volunteers, and their families.
"And I look forward to the continued growth and healing that lies ahead," she said of the Equest Hooves for Heroes program.
"I sought out Equest because I was at a very low point in my life and I needed help," she said. "They have really given me a breath of fresh air. Flaws and all they've taken me in. And I am greatly thankful for it."
And thankful that as we pause to remember the fallen on Memorial Day, with the support of Carry The Load and the dozens of organizations like Equest that it supports, the living get help taking the reins of their struggles too.
In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, WFAA will be sharing more about the work of Carry The Load and the dozens of "continuum of care" organizations it supports.
In the meantime, you can find more information here on the "Memorial May 2024" events brought to you by Carry The Load.
May 9, 2024
Carry The Load relay march brings awareness to fallen heroes
In honor of our nation's fallen military and first responders, participants in the Carry The Load relay set out from Santa Maria Thursday morning on a route that will culminate in a two-day event in Dallas, Texas.
The month-long campaign aims to raise awareness and encourage people of all ages to remember our fallen heroes and their many sacrifices.
The national relay travels 20,000 miles and covers 48 states.
There are five routes starting from different parts of the country and meeting in Dallas for a memorial march over the weekend of May 26-27.
The West Coast route started on Thursday, May 2 in Seattle, Washington.
May 9, 2024
Local Carry The Load walk honors fallen veterans
By: Rob Rizzo
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Who are you carrying?
It’s a question posed by the Carry The Load Walk. Step-by-step, participants honored fallen veterans in a three-mile walk.
The East Coast leg of the Memorial May relay kicked off at Harbor Park in Norfolk Wednesday morning with 33 members of the Bank of America team walking alongside volunteers from Carry The Load.
“We’re walking to bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day and honor those who served, both military and first responders,” said volunteer James Jeffers.
The non-profit focuses on getting everyday Americans together in honoring the sacrifices of military veterans, first responders and their families.
“We have non profits that deal with PTSD and suicide prevention,” said James Santos of Carry The Load. “We have non-profits that help servicemen and women returning home. We have some that deal with just surviving children of line of duty and service deaths.”
The nationwide relay covers 20,000 miles, and this group from Bank of America walked 4.5 of those miles to the Lowe’s on Military Highway in Norfolk.
“It’s part of the mission, sir,” said volunteer Malique Brinson. “Whether there’s people with us or not, we are always going to walk, rain or shine.”
Brinson and Jeffers walked alone as the temperatures stared to rise, straight down Virginia Beach Boulevard for another four miles, reaching Fire Station 7 in Virginia Beach.
“Rain, shine hot, it doesn’t matter,” Brinson said. “We’re still going to walk,” Brinson said.
The walk started at Harbor Park Wednesday morning and end at Station 12 in Virginia Beach. On average, they walk about 40 miles per day.
May 9, 2024
Dozens walk in ‘Carry The Load’ relay in Raleigh to honor fallen heroes
By: Brea Hollingsworth
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — With a large American flag, over a dozen people walked down Raleigh’s Western Boulevard Thursday in remembrance of fallen heroes.
Each year, Carry The Load brings together thousands of people from all across the country to honor and remember those in the military.
Jason Santos is the East Coast Relay Manager. He participates in the event every year.
“We are trying to be visible, remind people what Memorial Day, we call it Memorial May, is all about because one day is not really enough to say thank you,” said Santos.
The national relay covers nearly 20,000 miles with five routes during the month of May.
Santos and his team are traveling all over the East Coast.
“We started at West Point, New York and we are ending in Dallas, Texas so our relay route is 4,200 miles,” said Santos.
Cathy Dymond participated in a portion of the walk. She told CBS 17 she wanted to honor her loved ones.
“I grew up in a military family. My parents met in the military in the Navy, my grandfather was in the Navy, I have cousins who are in the Marines and in the Army and the Air Force, so the military is very near and dear to my heart,” said Dymond.
Kim Brady agrees.
May 8, 2024
Carry The Load National Relay to Walk Through La Vergne
Carry The Load, a non-profit that provides active ways to connect Americans to the sacrifices of our military, veterans, first responders, and their families, kicks off its Memorial May campaign on Monday, April 29. People of all ages can join the month-long national movement to honor and remember our fallen heroes.
The 14th annual Memorial May campaign will stay true to its roots of connecting people to the true meaning of Memorial Day. What started in 2011 as one Memorial Day march has catapulted in numbers and impact. This year, thousands of participants will walk in Carry The Load’s National Relay that spans 20,000 miles, 48 states, and 69 community events including 33 VA National Cemeteries. The relay will converge at the Dallas Memorial March on Memorial Day weekend.
New this year, Carry The Load is introducing an exciting new element of innovation to make a bigger impact. Upon registering at www.carrytheload.org, volunteers can download the Good Move app, a gamified activity tracking app that allows individuals to easily utilize their mobile device for fundraising progress and health activities such as steps walked on a live leaderboard. All participants are encouraged to register and download the Good Move app.
“Memorial May unites thousands of people under a common purpose, and it’s been incredible to see participants honor our fallen heroes together,” says Stephen Holley, co-founder, president and CEO of Carry The Load and Veteran U.S. Navy SEAL. “We’re building on previous years’ momentum with elements like the Good Move app to deepen personal engagement and help participants strengthen their connections with each other.”
How to get involved:
- People of all ages can register for free to walk with the National Relay team, attend a Community Event, and fundraise at carrytheload.org/Memorial-May.
- Join the Dallas Memorial March.
- Host a Carry it Anywhere event on your own.
- Educate youth with Carry The Flag activities that help inspire patriotism.
Carry The Load raises much needed funds to assist with many challenges facing our military, veterans, first responders, and their families. The non-profit’s goal this year is $2 million through peer-to-peer fundraising. Since 2011, Carry The Load has raised more than $42 million, with a remarkable 93% of donations going toward its programs.
JPMorgan Chase is the title sponsor of Carry The Load’s National Relay for the 10th consecutive year. Additional corporate partners include Energy Transfer; FirstNet®, Built with AT&T; Frito-Lay (PepsiCo); Henry Schein, Inc.; and TACenergy. The VA National Cemetery Administration is a strategic partner.