Arkansas Hospice, The Veterans Clergy Partnership of the Ouachitas, Carry the Load and Sheep Dog Impact Assistance came together to "honor the fallen" with a drive-thru event symbolizing this year's Carry the Load.
The relay rally for Carry the Load, which annually passes through Hot Springs, has gone virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2011 by veteran U.S. Navy SEALs Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley to honor and celebrate "our nation's heroes by connecting Americans to the sacrifices made by our nation's military, veterans, first responders and their families," according to a news release.
"Despite the coronavirus and social distancing, organizations whose missions include honoring the memory and meeting the unique needs of our veteran and first-responder populations realized they still need to find a way to honor the fallen as we approach Memorial Day," Arkansas Hospice said in a news release.
The event was held from 1-3 p.m. Thursday at Gross Funeral Home.
"We're just glad to be a community partner of it," Justin Nicklas, the funeral home's manager, said. "So many Memorial Day events have been canceled, so this is a safe way that we can honor fallen veterans and first responders."
Carry the Load's website says it strives to do the following:
• Raise awareness of those who make sacrifices daily by providing Americans with an active way to remember, honor and celebrate them.
• Raise funds to be distributed to nonprofit partners who provide healing services for the mind, body and soul of veterans.
• Inspire patriotism in youths by educating them about the American flag and the sacrifices made to honor it.
With one out of every four dying Americans being a veteran, Memorial Day is increasingly important each year in its meaningfulness as a time to remember all our fallen heroes, according to the Arkansas Hospice release.
"This includes not only veterans, but their spouses and our first responders," the release said. "This year, there will not be the traditional walks, parades, ceremonies and gatherings that honor the memory and raise awareness of the needs of veterans and first responders. But social distancing will not get in the way of finding a way to honor the fallen."
The public was welcome to the event.
"An honorary, wearable banner/bib will be handed to each participant to wear in a safe, socially distant environment as they drive through the Gross Funeral Home porte-cochere to honor those they are 'Carrying The Load' for," the release said.
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