In the News

By: Steven Mayer

By: Sandy Rojas

214,000 volunteers team up for the 4 week march between VA cemeteries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began its nationwide “Carry The Load“ march on May 2, honoring fallen service members ahead of Memorial Day. Two hundred fourteen thousand volunteers have signed up to walk in teams for four weeks, covering 20,000 miles across 48 states. Five separate routes will pass through several national memorial cemeteries before converging for a final rally in Dallas, Texas, on Memorial Day weekend.

“We honor our nation’s heroes interred in our national cemeteries every day, but most especially throughout Memorial May,” said VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn. “Throughout this month, we welcome and encourage all Americans to join us in the marches honoring our nation’s Veterans, service members, and their family members.”

AS THE LORD LEADS PRAY WITH US...

• For Under Secretary Quinn to receive God’s guidance as he heads the Office of Memorial Affairs.
• For Secretary Denis McDonough to be led by the Lord as he oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - The Carry The Load organization passed through Charlottesville on Monday.

Carry The Load says its National Relay Walk is about honoring the men and women who gave their lives while serving the United States.

“It all starts with our mission which is to bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day,” Mia McGurl, Carry The Load’s communication liaison, said.

While walking, people can wear badges, hold flags, or call out the names of individuals they are representing.

McGurl says doing this is a very special thing, “Say their name out loud or if you’re religious, pray for them out loud, anything like that, just so they can still be remembered today.”

Carry The Load will continue to walk across the country, leading up to Memorial Day.

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On Tuesday May 7th, the Carry The Load National Relay will make its way through the badger state. This relay started Sunday May 5th, in Minneapolis and will end on Sunday May 26th, in Dallas Texas.

Carry The Load Memorial May takes place throughout the entire month to raise awareness for the sacrifices made by military, veterans, first responders and their families. Carry The Load began in 2011 with a twenty hour and eleven minute march in Dallas, Texas. It has since expanded to a relay through the nation.

The stops in the badger state are:

• Tuesday May 7th Wisconsin Dells Police Department. 712 Oak St. Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Departure 7:00 a.m.
• Five Guys. 1300 Great Wolf Dr. Baraboo, WI 53913. Departure 9:00 a.m.
• Middleton Firefighters Memorial Park. 3201 N Pleasant View Rd. Middleton, WI 53562. Departure 11:30 a.m.
• Middleton Fire District. 7600 University Ave. Middleton, WI 53562. Departure 1:00 p.m.
• City of Madison Fire Station 9. 201 N Midvale Blvd. Madison, WI 53705. Departure 3:00 p.m.
• City of Madison Fire Station 1. 314 Dayton St. Madison, WI 53703. Departure 5:00 p.m.
• City of Madison Fire Station 8. 3945 Lien Rd. Madison, WI 53704. Departure 7:30 p.m.
• City of Madison Fire Station 11. 4011 Morgan Way Madison, WI 53718. Departure 10:00 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Participants of the Carry The Load Memorial Day Campaign will walk 20,000 miles to honor and remember fallen heroes across the U.S.

The goal is to walk a dozen miles a day, starting in a new city each morning. The campaign is a month long, with participants living out of a bus hoping to spread the message of the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The campaign officially started on April 29th and Charlottesville was the designated spot for the participants to walk today.

Mia McGurl is one of the eight participants on the East Coast route. Each day she “carries” American heroes with her on her backpack. To her, this is the true meaning of Memorial Day.

“One of the most memorable things that I’ve learned when I’ve been out here is that nobody dies once, they die twice. Once when they pass away and the second is when nobody says their name anymore. They’re forgotten. So, Memorial Day to me is making sure they’re not forgotten and making sure they’re still being celebrated,” said McGurl.

The nonprofit hopes to raise $2 million to support and assist the challenges faced by the military, veterans, first responders and their families. 

The relay goes until Memorial Day when the participants will end in Houston, Texas. Along the way, they will meet veterans, and other participants carrying the load.

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, has kicked off its Memorial May campaign. People of all ages can join the month-long national movement to honor and remember our fallen heroes.

The campaign will travel through Wood County on Monday with stops at Municpal Park, 945 Elm St., Perrysburg, at 5:30 p.m.; Kroger Marketplace, 1094 N. Main St., at 6:30 p.m. and walking to the Bowling Green Fire Division, 552 E. Court St., where they will be at 8 p.m.

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.

“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.”

People of all ages can register for free to walk with the National Relay team and fundraise at carrytheload.org/Memorial-May.

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.