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National nonprofit stops in Baton Rouge to honor fallen heroes ahead of Memorial Day

May 23, 2025

WAFB-TV

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – For Michelle Floril, healing from the loss of a close friend begins with walking and remembering.

Floril served in the U.S. Army Reserves alongside Staff Sgt. Kaigua “Kai” Kagiri, forming a strong bond.

In 2021, that bond was shaken when she received news that Kagiri had died by suicide.

“He sat with us, we joked and watched movies with my husband that evening, and Sunday morning, I got the call that he had taken his life,” Floril said. “Sorry if I get a little emotional, but it never goes away.”

It’s stories like hers that inspire Carry The Load, a national nonprofit dedicated to honoring fallen military members, first responders, and their families.

The group travels the country each May to raise awareness and funds for families dealing with loss and trauma.

Their latest stop brought them to Baton Rouge.

“We say there are two deaths. There’s one that’s physical, and the one that happens when people stop saying your name and telling your story,” said Rilea Stapf, who has walked with the group for the past 10 years.

Stapf and about a dozen volunteers gathered at the corner of Perkins Road and Acadian Thruway to continue their journey on foot. The Baton Rouge leg is just one stretch of a monthlong national relay that will end in Dallas with a weekend event that draws about 20,000 people.

“We encourage folks to come out, walk with us, share stories, whether it’s someone they knew personally or just a way to honor our heroes,” Stapf said. “It’s about remembering those who gave everything.”

Stapf said Carry The Load is about more than just one day of remembrance.

“We don’t think one day is enough to say thank you,” she said. “That’s a debt that can never be repaid. So, for the entire month of May, we spend that trek saying their names and telling their stories to make sure their families and friends know their sacrifice still matters.”

The group’s next stop is Lafayette, followed by Houston, before wrapping up in Dallas. According to its website, Carry The Load has raised more than $600,000 so far this year.

View the full article here.

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National nonprofit stops in Baton Rouge to honor fallen heroes ahead of Memorial Day

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