TOPEKA (WIBW)— Two non-profit organizations are working to ensure the sacrifices of veterans and first responders will not go unrecognized this Memorial Day.

The Kansas chapter of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance teamed up with Carry the Load for this years Midwest Relay.

Carry the Load will travel across the country this month, as an active way to connect Americans to the sacrifices of military, veterans and first responders.

The 25 participants walked 11 miles Thursday starting at Topeka Fire Station #2 and ending at Mission Township Fire.

Organizers explained the walk’s significance.

“So on the back of my backpack are names of some of my cop friends that I have lost in the line of duty, some military personnel that were killed in action over in Afghanistan,” Vice Pres., Sheep Dog Impact Assistant Kacey Wiltz said. “So what A am doing is carrying the load for those individuals that are not here to do so. Personally I’m police officer myself and I know the burden of we care for just doing the job, so I want to make sure the individuals whose name are on my back know that I got them and I got their six.”

This years Carry the Load relay will end in Dallas with a Memorial Day celebration.