relay

QUINCY — A small group of flag-carrying volunteers walked two and half miles Sunday morning from the Central Fire Station at North Ninth and Vermont to the National Cemetery on Maine Street, just east of 36th Street.

“The main reason we’re here today is to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day,” said Kincaid, an Air Force veteran who spent his career at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. “The way we see it, it’s not about going out and having picnics and drinks with your friends.

BOISE, Idaho — For the last decade Carry the Load has walked across America to help people remember the true meaning of Memorial Day.

"A lot of times it gets washed up in the barbecues which is perfectly fine, but there is a much deeper meaning to it," said Rilea Staph. "That’s our main goal out here."

QUINCY (WGEM) - Nine men walked and cycled several miles through Quincy, Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, and Burlington, Iowa on Sunday to raise awareness for those who died serving the country as part of Carry the Load’s annual Memorial month relay.

Since 2011, Carry the Load’s mission has been to bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day. Initially a march in Dallas, TX, the organization grew into something national that goes on for the month of May in all the regions of the U.S. The Midwest relay was added in 2019 and this is Carry the Load’s third time through Quincy.

SAN ANTONIO — Members from Carry the Load walked and biked through San Antonio Sunday, as part of a cross-country, five-route trek across the 48 continental states to raise awareness for the sacrifices made by military, veterans, first responders and their families.

KENS 5 Weather Chief Bill Taylor was the emcee of today's Carry the Load event.

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a national nonprofit founded in Rogers, hosted its first ever “Carry the Load” event in northwest Arkansas on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park.

The rainy weather conditions didn’t stop participants and organizers said it’s no excuse to “sit this one out.”

“Whether it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, sunny – we’ve got to appreciate this life,” said CEO and Founder of SDIA Sgt. Major Lance Nutt. “There are so many men and women who have died for us who don’t get to enjoy opportunities like this so, we weren’t going to miss it.”

Members from Carry the Load walked and biked through San Angelo Saturday, as part of a cross-country, five-route trek across the 48 continental states to raise awareness for the sacrifices made by military, veterans, first responders and their families.

“The West route, which we’re on right now, we’re going from Seattle over to Dallas,” crew medic Andrea Coles said while at a local stop in San Angelo. “It will be 20,000 miles total over all five routes, and we’ll all end in Dallas and cover all 48 continental states.”

Carry The Load Co-founders Stephen Holley and Clint Bruce were featured on the Dallas legal podcast, Legal 123s by ByrdAdatto where they talked about how they became Navy SEALs, how Carry The Load was started and the mission of the organization.

KENNEWICK, Wash. — A nationwide initiative honoring the military, veterans, first responders and their families is making its way through the Tri-Cities.

This initiative was started ten years ago by the co-founder in Dallas.

"He was at a barbecue and realized that people were having fun but weren't representing the true meaning of Memorial Day. So he threw some pounds in his backpack and started walking to remember those guys, and along that route, he was stopped by a Vietnam veteran that said, 'Son who are you carrying?' and from there Carry the Load was born," said Digital Content Manager, Matthew Reid.

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Over the course of 20,000 miles and 48 states, “Carry The Load” is a non-profit organization that honors fallen men and women in our military and first responders by walking across the country.

“To me, it’s just a remembrance, it allows me to reflect on the things I’ve done not only in my military career but the guys I lost, the friends I lost in combat and to pay respect to them, the family memories that go on without their loved ones around, it’s just a big remembrance for me.” air force veteran, Kevin Cluck

Carry the Load's national relay had activities in San Antonio this past weekend on its way to Dallas. KEN5 looked at the details of the events and shared the details about the organization and how to get involved.