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Annual veterans awareness march Carry the Load passes through Rockwall

May 28, 2025

Rockwall County Herald-Banner

By: Travis Hairgrove

Despite stormy weather eventually leading to an early end for the Dallas Memorial March on Sunday night, a group of hundreds of passionate supporters of veterans and first responders gathered in front of the Rockwall County Courthouse as Carry the Load made one of its stops Saturday.

For the past 13 years, Rockwall has been a stopping point for the East Coast Relay of the nationwide walk, which aims to raise awareness of America’s veterans and first responders – especially those who died in the line of duty or took their own lives because of PTSD or other struggles.

One of the reasons why Carry the Load was so well attended in Rockwall this year was because the stop was at the much easier time of 6 p.m. rather than at 2 a.m., as it was in previous years.

“Some of you have been here as we met in the rain at 2 o’clock in the morning,” Rockwall County Sheriff Terry Garrett said. “There was a change in the procedure with Carry the Load this year and they asked about moving it into the evening, about 6 p.m. and everybody was on board … so we’re glad you’re here and hopefully this will grow even more than what we’ve done in the past.”

One of the participants in the Rockwall stretch of the walk was McLendon-Chisholm mayor and Marine Corps veteran Bryan McNeal.

“I have walked many years in Carry The Load, have made many friends and have formed many memories,” McNeal said. “It is an absolute honor to walk each year, hear stories, read names, have prayer and understand going into Memorial Day why we pause and remember.”

Despite forecasts of incoming storms, some remembrance-related events continued past Carry the Load into Monday, including the morning ceremonies at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Rockwall and at the McLendon-Chisholm Fire Department.

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