relay

A small group of relay participants was walking with a purpose when it passed through Aspen on Tuesday evening for their 3,900-mile journey through the Great Plains and Mountain West.

Its goal: “To restore the true meaning of Memorial Day,” which is part of the mission of the annual Carry the Load national relay that includes five bus- and human-powered routes throughout the United States.

“Memorial Day was, is and will always be about the fallen heroes,” said event organizer (and former Aspenite) Dill Driscoll, who helped create the national relay. “They gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country, for their town.”

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Volunteers are marching one foot in front of the other, continuing their 20,000-mile, cross-country journey in honor of fallen military members and first responders.

Paul Kuh from Texas is volunteering to walk after serving in the Air Force for more than two decades.

“We were established to bring back, initially, the memory of what Memorial Day’s all about,” he said. “We want to make it more than just the barbecues and the half-off sales, where those are all fine and fun, but we want to bring back the memory of what Memorial Day was, to honor the veterans that went before us. It was an honor to serve, but it is so important to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty and given their lives in defense of this country.”

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thousands of people are taking part in a massive effort to shift the focus of Memorial Day.

Each step taken honors someone who laid down their life to protect our freedom.

“For anyone who has lost someone in service to our country, they will tell you that participating in Carry The Load has made a lasting impact on their life,” Stephen Holley, co-founder, president and CEO of Carry The Load, said. “There is nothing like the human touch. Being in that environment, walking side-by-side one another, and sharing stories demonstrates beyond words that people do care.”

For 4 miles, Longboat Key Fire Department personnel helped carry the load.

Or rather, for 4 miles, Longboat Key fire personnel helped Carry the Load, a nationwide walk organized by service members and first responders to celebrate Memorial Day. Since 2011, veterans and first responders have been organizing walks with local first responders to raise money and honor the nation’s heroes.

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – Carry The Load will be walking through Fort Hood this Thursday and Waco this Friday as a part of its 20,000-mile national relay to honor and remember fallen military and first responders.

III Corps and Fort Hood will host the rally at 10:30 a.m. at the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment. Ten to 15 participants will rally for the color guard posting of the colors, the singing of the National Anthem and a demonstration by the horse detachment.

Carry The Load will be walking through Hot Springs, Ark., and Shreveport on Wednesday as a part of its national relay to honor and remember our fallen military and first responders.

The non-profit provides active ways to connect Americans to the sacrifices of our nation’s military, veterans, first responders and their families.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A group known as Carry the Load is passing through Lincoln on Tuesday with flags, memories and a message to honor fallen first responders and military members.

“Usually start around 7 o’clock in the morning and it’s usually a walk and the walks range from 3 to 5 miles,” said Joseph Meno.

Meno is a veteran and current Dallas police officer. He was taking a turn walking in Lincoln, with a flag in hand and a backpack bearing six names of Dallas police officers who have died. Many who walk do the same with patches, photos, and notes to the fallen with them - like the name implies, carrying their load.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.

Carry the Load is a life changing journey taking a whole lot of steps to honor fallen soldiers and first responders, and the next stop is walking through Grand Junction.

Kristoff Cohran with Carry the Load says, “It’s a grassroots effort that started in 2011 by two navy seals who retired, finished their duty, came back home, and felt like Memorial Day wasn’t important anymore.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The National Carry the Load Relay honoring fallen service members made its way to Lincoln on Tuesday.

Volunteer Jeremiah Kincaid explained that walking through the rain is nothing compared to what families of fallen service members go through.

“Part of it is this little bit we’re doing, walking in the rain, it really doesn’t compare to what the families go through when they lost somebody, so it’s the least that we could do to achieve our goal,” Kincaid said.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - On Tuesday a national relay team made several stops in Omaha, hoping to spread awareness of the significance behind Memorial Day.

The Midwest team made their way through Council Bluffs and into Omaha on Monday. Tuesday they started their walk through the city at 75th and Dodge, many holding flags and signs.

They’re reminding people why this Monday is dedicated to honoring those who have served.