Lexington, KY – A nationwide relay walk, known as the ‘Carry the Load’ Relay, arrived in Lexington on Sunday to pay tribute to the unparalleled sacrifices made by the country’s heroes. Participants walked several miles with flag poles in hands, a tradition not typical for an ordinary Sunday, but a humbling experience for those honoring fallen heroes like participant, Chapel Tinus.

Carrying On The Legacy Of Heroes

“The feeling is beyond words. Everyone has a story, and it’s truly a great honor for me to carry on the legacy of those who paid the ultimate price,” said Tinus, a Returning Participant of the Carry the Load program. This program is not just a relay walk, but an event where hundreds of veterans, public servants, and their families come together to traverse the country in a relay that lasts a month.

As the granddaughter of two World War II veterans, Tinus understands the impact such initiatives have on the families and the community at large. She said, “We have observed many people using this program as part of their healing process when they have lost someone.”

Raising Funds and Remembering the Fallen

Apart from being a healing pathway, these relay walks also serve as a means to raise funds for other non-profit organizations that support current veterans and first responders, adding another noble cause to its agenda.
Christian Williams, a team member, added that they make a point to document the names of the fallen. He heartily explained, “We were once told when we start this journey of life, we have two deaths. The first is when we physically leave this earth, and the second is when people stop saying our name. What we strive to do is to make sure that no hero ever experiences that second death.”

Honoring the Bravery of All Heroes

Carry the Load Relay honors fallen heroes from varying walks of life – veterans and soldiers, but also police officers and firefighters. One such hero is Chuck Williams of the Lexington Fire Department. Williams answered his last call on February 17, 1997, losing his life while battling a deliberately set house fire. Lexington Firefighter Mike Kamphake shares that when the community comes together to honor heroes like firefighter Williams, the fire department receives a much-appreciated morale boost.

“There are people who have paid an ultimate price. This is a legacy we have pledged to honor, living up to their high standards,” declared Kamphake. Thus, as the ‘Carry the Load’ Relay proceeds forward, it not only nurtures a sense of unity and respect among people but also ensures that heroic spirits like Williams continue to inspire generations to come.

As the path of ‘Carry the Load’ Relay unfolds with each passing mile, it carries forward the stories, the courage, and the undying spirit of the heroes who have firmly etched their names in the annals of time.