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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CHARITY ORGANIZATION
CARRY THE LOAD
AND CORRESPONDING CROSS COUNTRY RELAY
ON COURSE TO “REGAIN MEMORIAL DAY”
27-Day Foot Relay Underway Traveling From West Point, New York To Dallas, Texas
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 9, 2013)—The national relay, CARRY THE LOAD (CTL), is well underway
again in 2013. Celebrating its second annual cross-country event, CTL launched its 2000-mile, 27-day, 24/7
national walk from its official starting point in West Point, NY on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. The journey’s
route takes CTL through 12 different states (including Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas) and 15 major
markets and concludes in Dallas, TX on Memorial Day weekend, May 26 - 27, 2013.
The CARRY THE LOAD national relay is an initiative (organized by the charity organization by the same
name—Carry The Load) to unite Americans in a walk to honor those who have fallen in service to our
country—veterans, service men and women, first responders, citizens and volunteers—to “carry the
load” for those who have and those who can no longer.
Since departing West Point, NY, CARRY THE LOAD has been embraced by a supportive public raising
nearly $335,000 to date and welcoming more than 700 road warriors along the way. The third NYC leg
dispatched from the Horse Soldiers Memorial (located at Ground Zero) with Fire Commissioner Salvatore
Cassano, along with members of the NYC Fire Department and 9/11 family members, leading the way with
mutually shared excitement to “regain” the meaning of Memorial Day.
Many who walk carry meaningful mementos of those they remember in honor (“Who Are You
Carrying?”)—be it a cherished photo, weathered army boots or a memorial flag. As CTL symbols of
significance, three fire hoses travel in honor and recognition of (1) All Navy SEALS killed in action and/or
training, (2) the 343 FDNY firefighters who were killed in the 9/11 attacks and (3) all Dallas firefighters
killed in the line of duty since inception of the Department. The fire hoses will travel the entire 2000-mile
route to Dallas.
CTL has enjoyed the companionship of a variety of supporters; nearly 200 staffers from Lincoln
Financial participated in five legs in Philadelphia, mall employees and student choirs also stepped forward to
join in the journey. Staten Island's Rescue 5 Firehouse and the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department (Bowie,
MD) offered its amenities for a quick shower and short respite for the CTL Crew.
Corporate participants who have lent early financial assistance in an effort to assist CTL in its goal to raise
$1,000,000 for its 2013 beneficiaries include: AT&T, Budweiser, Golds Gym, jcpenney, Lincoln Financial,
The History Channel and TXUenergy.
To register as a Load Carrier /or/ demonstrate your support by sponsoring a portion of the Relay /or/ to
donate directly to the campaign, please visit www.CarryTheLoad.org. All contributions will benefit the CTL
National Relay event and national charity beneficiary organizations--Heroes On The Water, Snowball
Express, Sons Of The Flag Burn Foundation, T.A.P.S., Team Red, White & Blue and Tip Of The

2. Spear.
2013 Carry The Load Market Stops Remaining:
-Monday, May 13 – Athens, GA
-Tuesday, May 14 – Atlanta, GA
-Wednesday, May 15 – Kennesaw / Cartersville / Calhoun, GA
-Thursday, May 16 – Chattanooga / Dunlap, TN
-Friday, May17 – McMinnville / Murfreesboro / LaVergne, TN
-Saturday, May 18 – Nashville, TN (ARMED FORCES DAY)
-Sunday, May 19 – Linden / Perryville / Henderson, TN
-Monday, May 20 – Memphis, TN
-Tuesday, May 21– Little Rock, AR
-Wednesday, May 22 –Benton / Hot Springs / Arkadelphia, AR
-Thursday, May 23 – Prescott / Hope / Texarkana, AR
-Friday, May 24 – Naples / Omaha / Mt. Pleasant / Mt. Vernon, TX
-Saturday, May 25 – Sulphur Springs / Greenville / Royse City, TX
-Sunday, May 26 – Dallas, TX
-Monday, May 27 (MEMORIAL DAY) – Dallas, TX
ABOUT CARRY THE LOAD
Founded in 2011 by Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley (U.S. Naval Academy graduates and U.S. Navy veterans),
CARRY THE LOAD is a non-profit [501(c)(3)] foundation organized to restore the meaning and purpose of
Memorial Day and recognize those who devoted their lives to protect us in defense of our nation, intolerable
crime and unforeseen tragedy and disaster.
With the mission to engage Americans by challenging us to look beyond the contemporary three-day weekend
(now customarily observed and celebrated by back-yard barbeques furniture and mattress sales), CTL hopes to
rejuvenate the true meaning and purpose of the holiday—to honor those who served and died for our country and
community by participating in the National Relay and acknowledging Memorial Day throughout the entire month
as “Memorial May.”
Originating in Dallas, TX, the 2011 inaugural event encompassed a 20-hour, 11-minute walk with more than 400
participants. Elevating to a national level, the 2012 CARRY THE LOAD mapped out a 24/7 foot-powered
national relay—an initiative that was supported by more than 6,000 Americans who walked a route that began in
West Point, NY, and continued across the nation over the course of 1,700 miles and 27 Days before landing in
Dallas, TX, for a Memorial Day March.
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CARRY THE LOAD NATIONAL RELAY
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