The Woody Williams Foundation is
teaming up with Carry the Load,
a nonprofit that is dedicated to restoring
the true meaning of Memorial Dao
raise awareness of Gold Star families and
honor their sacrifice for the traveling
monument and rally at Slugger F.
Joining me today with more on ts
is President and CEO Chad Graham
and Callen Garland,
Director of Outreach and Educat.
Gentlemen, thanks for joining us today.
You're putting the attention ban
Memorial Day where it should be, right?
Like this is, you know, I mean.
Chad just talked a little bit at
the Woody Williams Foundation.
Just the namesake alone and
what this organization is,
is bringing awareness to. I
think for us, Woody was my grandfather.
We lost him last year,
but he left us clear orders to
continue that mission to honor,
recognize and serve our Gold Star families.
And we have the honor to,
to help these families carry on
the legacy of their loved one
who paid the ultimate sacrifice,
which is really the the true fos
and meaning of Memorial Day.
Woody was on the show quite
a bit through the years.
He was a big fan of coming on h,
a big fan of coming on it.
And and I think that's why we
wanted to have you guys back ono
kind of we heard his message to,
apparently that we know we got
to carry on his message and his
legacy and in an extra way that
you guys are doing this is by
partnering with carry the Load.
Kind of how did that partnership come
about and it seems like a easy easy fit.
Well the Woody Williams Foundation and
Carry the Load 2 nonprofits that that
share the same mission which is to honor
those that paid the ultimate sacrifice
for our freedom and their famil.
And so the the partnership was was pretty
natural and so their true mission is to
restore the the meaning of Memorial Day.
Because that's the original pure
of the day was created in 1868 o
honor those that had given their lives
in military service to our coun.
And so teaming up with them is,
is something that we're very prd
of and excited to be able to hot
this rally here in Louisville.
Yeah, tell us about this rally.
I mean, what a way to kind of
get into your Memorial Day with
your eyes set on the right,
the right way to honor it.
We are very fortunate to have
an incredible relationship and
partnership with the Louisville Bats.
And so the National Relay team l
be coming through Louisville and
they're going to join the rally
at Louisville Slugger Field will
be set up outside of the gate,
Witherspoon and Preston.
And so they're going to come upd
we'll have a Gold Star parent te
to speak and some other people.
And then we're going to go intoe
stadium and the relay team with all of
us will do a lap of honor aroune
warning track inside of Slugger Field.
And then I'll come back out
with some closing remarks.
But they've also provided
us with some tickets,
those that will make a donation.
Will receive one of our tshirts and get
a ticket to the baseball game that night.
Wonderful. And can anybody atted
this rally or do you need to to
make a reservation ahead of tim?
No. All they have to do show up
to the rally will be set up out
outside of that gate. They'll see us.
The traveling monument will be
there for to honor Gold Star
families and their loved ones.
So we'll be set up.
It'll be hard to miss us if thee
anywhere near that gate and the carry
the load bus will be there as w,
right. What a wonderful Just
looking at the video it's just o
emotional just kind of seeing t.
Seeing their journey, their journey here,
their journey in and out of so many cities,
what did you think just looking at this
monument when you saw it for the first time?
The the one piece that I noticed
the most is the cut out the
silhouette of that soldier and .
Silhouette represents the loved one that
so many families have lost thatt
paid that ultimate sacrifice fo.
And we know if your grandfather
were here, he'd be right out the
in the middle of it, wouldn't
he? Absolutely would.
I think one of the things that t
he stressed in terms of that min
that he left us with those orde,
so to speak, is that things
like this traveling monument,
bringing it to the families,
bringing it to the community,
having folks like you,
having folks like Louisville Ba.
That join with us to really
crank up that public awareness.
We wouldn't be able to go to a baseball
game and enjoy the freedoms we e
without those that gave their le
in military service. I
know those Gold Star families
appreciate this recognition,
right this moment to have that
people say thank you and we're
we're still with you, right.
I think sometimes we just need
to let people know we're still,
we're still here, we're still
listening and we're still supporting.
And that seems like that's easy to say,
but I don't think we say it enough to them.
And I think that the easy thing to do
is just that is to express that support.
And I think one of the one of te
things for us, our motto is the
cause is greater than I, you kn,
it's a cause greater than any o.
And that causes is these familis
carry the load. There's this.
Who are you carrying?
So as a part of that day,
we're going to give everybody a
card that has a hero's name anda
little bit of a bio on them so y
can carry that person with them.
And our hope is that that that's
such a simple demonstration of
respect and recognition and honor and
that they say their name out lo.
Simple things like that means
so much to these families.
And it's the right thing to do.
And it's our responsibility.
Yes, definitely. Gentlemen,
thank you so much for coming by.
Great day live.
He's here with us. He's here.
He's here on this.
Thank you all so much.
Once again, if you want to
participate and head on out
and show your support,
just head over to woodywilliams.