‘Carry the Load’ memorial walk honors fallen service members

More than 200 people participated in a memorial walk honoring fallen military, veterans and first responders at the Carry the Load Memorial May rally in Greenville County.

The fourth annual event sponsored by North American Rescue and Henry Schein was held on May 22. Attendees participated in a one-mile walk at North American Rescue’s headquarters in Greer. Andy Goldy, CEO of North American Rescue, said Carry the Load is not just a walk but a movement of active tribute.

The fourth annual Carry the Load Memorial May rally in Greenville County was held May 22. More than 200 people participated in a one-mile memorial walk honoring fallen military, veterans and first responders.

“Today, we honor our nation’s heroes,” Goldy said. “We support our veterans and their families, and we remind ourselves that freedom is never free.”

Todd McCaffrey, secretary of the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs, spoke at the event about the importance of Memorial Day for remembering the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

“Those men and women literally carried the load for all of us, and I’m proud to join you here today as we recognize all of them,” McCaffrey said.

During the rally, North American Rescue honored the gold star family of the late Spc. Geoffrey Whitsitt, a Greenville native who died in service in 2010. The company, in partnership with Henry Schein and Carry the Load, also provided a $1,000 donation to Veterans’ Last Patrol, a local organization honoring veterans in hospice care.

“North American Rescue, we say it often, our mission is to save lives, but that mission doesn’t stop on the battlefield or in the line of duty,” Goldy said. “It continues on how we care for those who have served, especially in the final chapter of life.”

Carry the Load, a nonprofit organization, organizes events across the country to honor fallen heroes throughout the month of May. Matt Fryman, the nonprofit’s operations and events director, said it’s important to take the time to remember those men and women, to speak their names and to hear their stories.

“We want to ensure that no veteran ever dies a second death,” Fryman said. “The first one being when the last breath leaves their body, but we want to make sure that second death, when their name is spoken the last time, never happens and that their legacy lives on generations to come.”