For a dozen years now,
the volunteers and ambassadors who carry
the load have taken their Memorl
Day message on the road right n.
Five teams are inching closer
on their journeys to Dallas.
They say their motivation to spd
that message remains as strong as ever.
Joining in this morning,
joining us this morning rather
is board member Todd Boding.
And we've got Ambassador Cody Banders
here to really just share the message and
tell us what's going on at this morning.
Thank you so much for joining u.
Well, thanks for having us here.
Yeah, it's an early call here.
Todd, let's start with you.
How is carry the load really
commemorating Memorial Day week?
You commemorate
Memorial Day weekend pretty
much the same every year.
And until we get the entire couy
participating in this the way they should,
we're going to continue doing i.
And essentially what we do is we try to
gather as many Americans as we can to
rally around the families of the fallen.
It's important that people understand
a very clear distinction betwee.
Veteran's day and a Memorial Da.
veteran's day is for guys
like us who are still here,
but we're here to make sure that
the people know that those who
never got to take off the unifo,
we got to rally around their fay
and we got to walk beside them.
A simple gesture,
but a powerful one
and thank you for your service.
Cody, how can people participate
in the Dallas Memorial March?
And if they're not going
to participate, just.
Come on down and and join you g.
Well coming on down is participg
and and as a veteran and I know
Todd shares this view every evey
person that we see down there ms
a lot to us and and as we honor
our fallen brothers and sisters,
participating literally looks
like showing up.
You can bring a pack or a load if you'd like.
Otherwise just be there bring it's a very
familyfriendly event kids are welcome
Rever Shawn Park Sunday afterno.
All this is on our website at
carrytheload.org and we're goino
be walking down there after we k
things off all the way through Monday.
Todd Cody, this question is
for for both of you guys.
As a veteran, what does
Memorial Day truly mean to you?
Memorial Day, what
what it means to me is that we'e
been granted an opportunity,
we've been granted privileges that the
rest of this world honestly does not know.
We've both been fortunate enough
to travel the the world and we'e
seen what the other side looks .
And I want this.
And we've had people that again,
they never got to take off the uniform
and they did that to give you ae
those privileges and freedoms that we have.
And so it it's just incredibly important
that people understand that andy
don't take it for granted becaue
the minute we take it for grant,
it's all in jeopardy.
You're
right, you're right, Cody.
I strongly agree with Todd on t.
And reflecting on the other friends we've
lost and the ones that hit close to home,
Memorial Day to me is a constant
reminder that it takes a heart d
nation of service to keep our freedoms.
And remembering that and honoring that in
Memorial Day and like Todd has mentioned,
drawing near those families
and supporting them,
that legacy and that honor is wt
strengthens our nation and brings us together
in a harder service that we all need.
Yeah, we we got to show them we care.
You know the the families unfortunately
can't bring back those who who
made the ultimate sacrifice,
but we can show the families.
That the death of their loved one mattered.
We have to care.
It's it's something.
It's a human connection that is
more healing than anything else.
It's called carry the load.
Right there. There is a saying,
who are you carrying?
And what does that mean?
What it what it means is there e
those the the folks that we honr
on this weekend, they carried a
load for us that none of us wil,
will not know in this lifetime.
We can't understand it.
Therefore they carried our load.
Now it's our turn to carry their load.
Todd Cody, Thank you so much
for joining us this morning.
As a pleasure to have you.
I know you've been busy as well and making
sure that everything runs smoot.
We do have some information to
share with our viewers here.
WFAA will be at Rubbish on Parkn
Dallas tomorrow and Monday as we
recognize our marchers and bring
that event to an incredible clo.
Thank you so much for joining u.
Thanks for having us.
We really appreciate y'all supp.