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Carry The Load: Nonprofit honors ‘true meaning’ of Memorial Day

May 23, 2024

The Sentinel-Record

By: Steven Mross

Continuing its mission to promote “the true meaning of Memorial Day,” Carry The Load made a stop in Hot Springs Wednesday, walking 5 miles from the Hot Springs Police Department to La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham where the group gathered for a short rally.

Started in 2011 by two Navy SEALs, the nonprofit organization is “bringing back what the true meaning of Memorial Day is all about and we call it Memorial Day,” Andrea Klein, an American Airlines flight attendant serving as a Carry The Load leg captain, told The Sentinel-Record.

“There are five teams that start on the east, west coasts, mountain regions and they all come to Dallas,” for a big celebration there at the end, she said, noting their team is the New England team, with 12 walkers.

“It’s a relay to Dallas,” she said, noting they were walking Wednesday with members of the Hot Springs Police Department, Hot Springs Fire Department, other first responders, volunteers, “people who lost someone, military, their families, and others.” Members of the Lake Hamilton High School JROTC team also walked and carried flags.

The CTL team went through Little Rock before coming to Hot Springs and will be going on to Arkadelphia, Hope, Texarkana and “then onward to Dallas,” Klein said, noting all the teams started May 1 for what would be a 26-day journey.

She said Carry The Load partners with 48 other nonprofit organizations and the money flows through CTL down to the other nonprofits “to help with mental health issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, people needing care or help after an officer is lost in the line of duty and many, many other things.”

Klein said they didn’t get caught in the rain Wednesday, but stressed “weather is a great thing. When it rains, you’re blessed by that. It’s one of those things you bring it in and just take it for what it is. It’s always a blessing whether it’s raining or cold. If we had got caught in the rain, it would have been great too, cool us off a little.”

The nonprofit organization’s mission is to bring awareness of Memorial Day’s true purpose of paying tribute to all who have served in the military or as first responders and their families, according to a news release from the organization.

Parth Patel, the hotel’s president of development, told the newspaper the local hotel has been involved since 2013 when he was approached by La Quinta corporate officials, who have been involved since the beginning.

“It was still kind of new at the time and they told me 11 years ago a rally wants to come through Hot Springs,” he said.

“Originally, for the first couple of years it was to remember Adam Brown, with SEAL Team 6, they knew his story,” Patel said, noting, “It’s kind of grown every year. Last year was the 10th anniversary. I’m so proud of the community and the turnout we have had. The police department, fire department, veterans’ community, all coming out.”

He said several restaurants donated food and La Quinta, located at 4253 Central Ave., served as the end stop in Hot Springs, providing water and snacks and “food to go” for the walkers. “It’s a real honor to be involved in it every year,” he said.

HSPD Officer 1st Class Omar Cervantes said prior to the start of the walk they were going from the HSPD over to the Garland County Veterans Memorial and Military Park, 118 Orange St., “for a moment of reflection,” and then would make their way to Broadway Street and Grand Avenue and from there to the La Quinta.

“We’re really happy to be part of it,” he said.

Will Beams, a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 32 years, was the main speaker at the rally at La Quinta that followed the walk.

“Today, I stand before you to delve deep into the hearts and minds of those who choose a path less ordinary, a path marked by sacrifice, courage and unwavering commitment,” Beams said. “I speak of veterans and first responders, the men and woman who embody the essence of selfless service.”

Beams said, “For many, the decision to embark on this noble path is deeply rooted in a sense of duty, patriotism, and a desire to make a difference in the world. It is fueled by a profound commitment to serving others, even in the face of adversity. Some are inspired by family tradition, following in the steps of parents or grandparents who have served before them.”

Whatever the motivation, Beams stressed “one thing remains constant: the selfless desire to put the needs of others above their own.” He said honoring “these remarkable individuals” is not just “a gesture of gratitude” but a “moral imperative,” and “a testament to our collective appreciation for their sacrifices and a reaffirmation of our shared values as a society.”

He urged the gathered crowd “to honor their service with our words, our actions and our unwavering support.”

View the full story here.

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