BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Current and former military members are walking in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The monthlong journey began for some on Wednesday in Burlington. About a dozen military members started their journey walking through several Vermont towns.
Carry the Load is an organization working to raise awareness and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
“A lot of us are veterans or first responders, some of us are just regular people who wanted to come out and share in preserving the memories of these people that sacrificed so much for us,” said Jason Ash, a co-manager of Carry the Load.
The New England leg of the journey started in Burlington’s Waterfront Park. From there, the group walked to Winooski and will end their stop in Vermont in Montpelier.
Lt. Seth Davis of the 82nd Airborne is participating in the walk for the first time. He says he’s walking to make sure those who served before him aren’t forgotten.
“By coming out here and showing our support, by putting a name on our chest, show somebody that we’re doing this for– some have given everything and we’re just out here to remember them,” Davis said.
Some participants wrote the name of a family member or loved one who served.
Ash says by walking and sharing stories, they’re able to keep their memory alive.
“It’s often said that everybody has two deaths. Your first death is a physical one and your second death is the last time anyone says your name. So, we try to ensure that they never experience that second death,” Ash said.
During their journey, the group will visit Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and several other states along the way. This group will meet up with four other groups by the end of the month for a two-day event in Dallas, Texas.