STURGIS, S.D. – A non-profit annual awareness campaign for military and first responders made its way into Sturgis and the Black Hills Wednesday.
Carry The Load provides active ways to connect Americans to the sacrifices of the nation’s military, veterans, first responders and their families.
The national relay kicked off on April 28, and will spend 32 days and travel over 20,000 miles across 48 states before culminating at the Dallas, Texas Memorial March on Memorial Day Weekend.
Today, the relay stopped in Sturgis, where National Director Matt Fryman says support has been fantastic.
“We have gotten to meet so many wonderful people, and hear their stories,” Fryman said. “We just talked with one woman that added her loved one to our wall and tell his story so his memory never dies.”
Since 2011, Carry The Load’s mission has been to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day and has grown into a nationwide movement.
Fryman says there are five routes covering the 48 lower states to honor and remember those who laid down their lives for our freedom. Once leaving Sturgis, they stopped at Black Hills National Cemetery.
“There is no better place to be able to feel the weight of the sacrifices that our country’s men and women make to protect our freedom,” Fryman said. “It’s always an honor to be at such hallowed ground.”
Fryman says in addition to providing emotional healing, Carry The Load raises much needed funds to assist with the many challenges facing the nation’s military, veterans, first responders and their families.
Peer-to-peer fundraising goes toward recovery services, such as counseling, adaptive training, service dogs, suicide prevention and more.
Fryman says the 2022 goal is to reach $2 million.
