1700-Mile ‘Carry the Load’ Relay to Honor Veterans Will Pass Through Peekskill

Memorial Day is still about a month away (May 28), but tomorrow, veterans and military families will embark on a journey to remind Americans that the national holiday is a time to remember and honor U.S. soldiers and veterans.

The “Carry the Load” organization is beginning a 1700-mile relay at West Point on May 1 at 12 p.m. The trip will be separated into five 350-mile segments lead and sponsored by different individuals and groups throughout the country.

The group of veterans, military families, friends and community members will stop in Peekskill around 1 p.m. Tuesday, and then make its way down Route 9 with Westchester stops planned in Croton, Ossining, Sleepy Hollow and Dobbs Ferry. View their full map here. 

“Our mission is to foster awareness and restore reverence around the true meaning of Memorial Day, uniting community members in a collective effort to remember and celebrate our American heroes,” Carry the Load’s website explains. The group hopes their efforts will steer resources to and raise awareness of existing non-profit groups already organized to help veterans and their families.

Once through Westchester, the relay will continue through eight states heading south to complete the journey in Dallas, Texas on May 27 at 3:48 p.m., just as a 2012 Carry the Load Dallas event begins.

U.S. Naval Academy graduate, veteran and former SEAL Clint Bruce started the organization in 2011 with the idea of “carrying the load” of the men and women who gave America their last full measure of service.

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Watch Bruce explain his motivation in the YouTube video above. If you see the group of military men, women, friends and family “carrying the load” tomorrow give them a supportive honk. They welcome you to join them as well.

If you get a good photo, please share here on Patch.

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