MINNEAPOLIS — Three relay teams are on a mission: Carry the American flag across 40 states over the course of 32 days.
On Thursday those flag carriers made their way to the Twin Cities, kicking off the Midwest portion of the relay at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Carry the Load started the initiative in 2011 with a march in Dallas. Since then, the number of cities involved has grown exponentially. However, the mission remains the same -- to "restore the true meaning of Memorial Day."
In fact, in honor of fallen soldiers, the non-profit organization hosts a variety of community events through its Memorial May Awareness campaign. But still, veterans, active military members, first responders, and their families are honored.
Want to get involved? Carry the Load encourages people to walk alongside the national relay team in their area.
In downtown Minneapolis, the opportunity comes Friday at Gold Medal Park. The community is invited to participate in a three-mile walk along the Mississippi River, over the Stone Arch Bridge, and on, to Able Seedhouse + Brewery.
Plan to arrive at the park at 1:30 PM. The walk will begin at 2 PM.
For more information check out the Carry the Load website.