1. 4701 Shore Dr.
Suite 103, PMB 251
Virginia Beach, VA, 23455
contact@carrytheload.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CROSS-COUNTRY RELAY HONORS AMERICAN HEROES
Virginia Beach, VA. (April 20, 2012) – Men and women across the United States willjoin together in bringing
back the meaning of Memorial Day in a cross-country relay kicking off May 1. The relay is being organized by
Carry the Load, a non-profit organization aimed at honoring America’s military heroes and providing support to
veterans and their families.
Starting in West Point, N.Y., the 27-day relaywill cover 17,000 miles and end in Dallas, Texas, the city where the
organization started. Once the participants reach Dallas, the organization’s flagship event will kickoff at
Reverchon Park. Participants will walk, run, cycle, kayak (across the Chesapeake Bay)—or as Carry the Load likes
to call “ruck”, a term meaning to carry, each individual segment.Each segment of the relay will be led by an
honorary Load Carrier—a veteran, a family member of a fallen serviceman or woman or anyone who is ready to
help take back Memorial Day. There is no cost to participate as a Load Carrier or to walk/run along with the
Carry the Load team. Individuals, businesses or organizations are able to sponsor segment(s) of the relay in an
effort to help families of fallen heroes. All funds raised will be donatedtoCarry The Load’s primary beneficiaries,
Snowball Express and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, two organizations hyper-focused on
supporting surviving families.
Relay participants may carry any item they choose to honor loved ones, whether it be the sentimental
belonging of a fallen soldier, or simply a token of American patriotism. If there is already a Load Carrier for the
segment you wish to carry, check out previous and future relay segments for open slots or come out and carry
the load with the Load Carrier, there are no limits on the number of people that can help Carry the Load.
Stories of bravery will be told at each stop along the tour, paying tribute to the legacies of local heroes and
generating pride within the hearts of military families and friends.To register to be a Load Carrier or sponsor a
segment(s) of the relay, visit CarrytheLoad.org and click on the Relay Map.
U.S. Navy veteran and former SEAL Clint Bruce founded Carry the Load in 2011 when he noticed a disconnect
between what Memorial Day means and how it is observed today. His mission was to unite community
members in a collective effort to remember and celebrate the sacrifice of American soldiers while fostering
awareness and restoring reverence around the true meaning of Memorial Day. The 2012 Carry the Load event
is a way for people to come together in celebrating America’s military heroes and to carry the load of the men
and women who gave America their last full measure of service.
When asked what it means to Carry the Load and take back Memorial Day, Coleman Ruiz, Executive Director of
Carry the Load and a U.S. Navy veteran and former SEAL, stated “Many brave men and women paid the
ultimate price for America to enjoy freedom. Carry the Load offers people an opportunity to share a Memorial
Day experience with thousands of other Americans honoring these heroes and their families.”
Join us on May 27 in Dallas, or at one of the 350 points along the road of remembrance. Those not able to
participate in the relay can show support by sponsoring a leg of the race or by donating directly to the
campaign by visiting http://www.CarryTheLoad.org. All contributions will be given to the organizations being
carried, specifically the Snowball Express, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the Yellow Ribbon
Fund and the RWB Team. Individuals are also encouraged to spread word about therelay, as well as the
ultimate mission of Carry the Load, over Facebook and Twitter.
For additional press inquiries or to learn more information about ways to get involved with Carry the Load, visit
www.carrytheload.org or email contact@carrytheload.org.
Carry the Load is a non-profit organization aimed at driving attention and steering resources towards existing
non-profit organizations that support veteran families and veteran organizations. Carry the Load offers
community members an opportunity to come together in sharing Memorial Day and actively remembering
American’s heroes.
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