Carry The Load has announced that its annual Memorial May walk will occur on Friday, May 23, at 9:30 a.m. at Mount Vernon Plaza on the Square.
According to Carry The Load, the annual Memorial May campaign unites thousands nationwide to walk in honor of fallen military personnel and first responders. Events are scheduled from April 28 through Memorial Day, with the organization aiming to restore the holiday's meaning through public participation, remembrance, and fundraising. This year’s fundraising goal is set at $1.5 million, with proceeds supporting mental health services, education, transition programs, and more.
Community members are encouraged to participate by registering individually or as part of a team, tracking miles, and fundraising. Events welcome individuals of all ages and backgrounds, including veterans, families, and civilians. Those unable to attend can contribute through donations. Media access is available upon request for interviews with ambassadors and b-roll footage. JPMorgan Chase serves as the national presenting sponsor alongside partners such as American Airlines and the VA National Cemetery Administration. Carry The Load allocates 93 percent of funds to its core programs.
Stephen Holley, co-founder, president, and CEO of Carry The Load and a veteran U.S. Navy SEAL said that "Carry The Load first started out of anger and frustration for a nation that we felt had forgotten the true meaning of Memorial Day." Holley added that since then their Memorial May campaign has helped provide healing for friends and family of the fallen while keeping their memories alive.
Carry The Load was founded in 2011 by U.S. Navy SEAL veterans Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley with the mission to restore Memorial Day's original meaning while honoring military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families. Initially a grassroots initiative, it has grown into a nationwide movement focused on uniting Americans through remembrance events and storytelling. The organization operates three main programs: Awareness, Continuum of Care, and Education; it allocates 93 percent of its total funds to these initiatives. Since its inception, Carry The Load has raised over $45.9 million dollars, hosted more than 50 community events across all 50 states and 29 countries supported 236 education programs engaged over 300000 participants.
