National Relay
The Carry The Load relay team travels across the country during the month of May to provide an active way to connect Americans to the sacrifices of our military, veterans, first responders and their families.
This year people can participate in our 32-day event either in-person or virtually. Come out to cheer on the relay team or join us by walking a leg or two. Every shout, clap and stride helps us honor and remember our nation’s heroes.
We welcome anyone and everyone to join us. Just bring good shoes, the right clothes for the weather and an amazing attitude!
Register
Fundraise
Military, veterans, first responders and their families need your support. Begin fundraising today to support our Continuum of Care partners.
The Relay
Click on the buttons for directional snapshots of each route. Follow the links below for detailed information about each route, and to find where and when you can join us in a city near you.
Filter by route:
West Coast
From Seattle to Dallas: 4,400 Miles
The West Coast Route of Carry The Load’s National Relay begins high in the Pacific Northwest at Victor Steinbrueck Park in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market neighborhood. Much like the routes on the east coast, it’s hard to overstate the beauty of the west coast journey passing through the gorgeous architecture within the University of Oregon; the monumental mountains of Burney, CA; the vines of Napa; the Golden Gate Bridge; the flash of Hollywood; the lights of Vegas; the painted desert of Arizona; and the white sands of New Mexico before its final 13day stretch through West and South Texas.
Mountain States
From Minot to Dallas: 3,900 Miles
The beautiful state of North Dakota, the scenic Mountain States Route begins in the welcoming city of Minot. The route travels through the Great Plains of South Dakota and Wyoming before visiting the hallowed grounds of Yellowstone National Cemetery in Montana. After a bend to Spokane, Washington, the journey continues through Idaho past the Great Salt lakes of Utah. The team traverses the Rocky Mountains through Colorado passing though Oklahoma as they make their trek to Dallas. In Dallas they will join the other four relay routes to celebrate our nation's heroes on Memorial Day weekend.
Midwest
From Minneapolis to Dallas: 3,800 Miles
Our Midwest Route of the National Relay traverses across the Heartland and begins in Minneapolis, MN passing through Motor City. The team travels back across to St. Louis under the iconic Gateway Arch. With a stop in Kansas City at World War I Veterans Memorial, the team heads north to Omaha, NE. The journey continues as they wind their way back down through Tulsa and Oklahoma City merging with the other Relay teams at the Dallas Memorial March to celebrate our heroes for the Memorial Day weekend.
New England
From Burlington, VT to Dallas: 3,700 Miles
Starting in Burlington, VT, the New England Route ranges through New England with stops by the Freedom Trail in Boston and the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut before traversing across upstate New York. After seeing the raging water of Niagara Falls, the Relay heads south through the Steel City of Pennsylvania, the mountains of West Virginia and the bluegrass of Kentucky. The journey continues to Hot-lanta, GA, Tennessee and Arkansas before the home stretch into Texas where it culminates at the Dallas Memorial March on Memorial Day Weekend.
East Cost
From West Point to Dallas: 4,200 Miles
With great respect and reverence, the East Coast Route of the National Relay begins at the West Point Cemetery within the nation’s Military Academy and continues into downtown Manhattan visiting the historic 9/11 Memorial. From Lady Liberty to the Liberty Bell, the Relay weaves south featuring American landmarks such as Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, and the United States Naval Academy. Upon reaching the Carolinas, the journey hugs the coast into Florida and then travels along the Gulf of Mexico visiting port cities in Alabama and Mississippi before taking a stroll down Bourbon Street. Once in Houston, the team turns north towards Dallas to celebrate our heroes on Memorial Day weekend.