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Carry The Load relay coming to Huntsville to ‘make Memorial Day matter’

May 17 2021
Julie Kink | AL.com

A nationwide relay aimed at honoring our nation’s heroes and “making Memorial Day matter again” will stop in Huntsville this week.

Carry The Load, a nonprofit organization formed 10 years ago by two veteran U.S. Navy SEALS, is visiting Huntsville as part of its “Memorial May” itinerary. The purpose is to impress on Americans the true meaning of Memorial Day, through events in 50 states and 29 countries, culminating in Dallas, Texas, on Memorial weekend.

Funds raised support Carry The Load’s awareness, continuum of care and education programs, which assist with the many challenges facing active duty military, veterans, first responders and their families.

A brief welcome ceremony to cheer on the participants will be held from 4:30-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial. The public is welcome.

Huntsville is just one stop on a 32-day, 15,500-mile National Relay across America. Huntsville relay stops on Saturday, May 22 are:

  • College Plaza Shopping Center, 4701 Meridian St. N (arriving approximately 2:30 p.m. and departing 3 p.m.)
  • The Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial, 200 Monroe St. NW (arriving approximately 4:30 p.m. and departing 5 p.m.)
  • DICK’S Sporting Goods, 2718 Carl T Jones Drive SE (arriving approximately 6:30 p.m. and departing 7 p.m.)
  • Publix Super Market at Mountain Cove Crossing, 12796 Bailey Cove Road SE (arriving approximately 9:30 p.m. and departing 10 p.m.)
Members of the public who would like to join the walkers for any leg of the route are asked to register on the web site, www.carrytheload.org, and are encouraged to carry a picture of someone for whom they are “Carrying the Load.”

Carry The Load is partnering with the Woody Williams Foundation to include as many Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments as possible on its nationwide tour. Alabama’s first Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was dedicated at the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial in 2020.