Community members gathered in downtown Mount Vernon this weekend for the annual Carry the Load event, a tribute honoring fallen service members and restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Organizers and participants reflected on the importance of remembering those who served and sacrificed, while also encouraging younger generations to carry forward a spirit of patriotism and community involvement.
“Carry the Load actually started as a way to bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day, and to really honor and remember those that have gone before us,” Charla Truesdale shared during the event. “We have a lot of those right here from Franklin County.”
The event was hosted locally in partnership with the Warrior Spirit Project, an organization that works closely with veterans and the community throughout the year. Organizers said honoring local veterans and military families remains central to the mission of the gathering.
For many participants, the event carries a deeply personal meaning.
“This event is definitely an important one for me because I’ve lost brothers in arms,” Brandon Bamburg explained. “It’s definitely a great way to give back and carry on to the next generation of war fighters.”
Since beginning programs in Mount Vernon, organizers said they have been continually encouraged by the community’s strong patriotic spirit. In addition to the annual Carry the Load gathering, the group also hosts a monthly flag tribute recognizing one local veteran at a time.
“We’ve recognized what a patriotic community it is,” organizers said. “Our monthly flag tribute is growing in leaps and bounds as we honor one specific veteran every single month.”
This year marked the second year for the community-wide Carry the Load event in Mount Vernon, and organizers noted that participation appeared to increase from the previous year. The event began with a community walk around the square before concluding with a ceremonial program designed to reflect on service and sacrifice.
“We have a very powerful closing ceremony at the end,” Truesdale shared. “We would love for anyone who can come to stay for the whole event, because the whole event has a lot of meaning to it.”
A recurring theme throughout the event was the importance of involving younger generations in patriotic traditions and service-oriented events.
“I always encourage the younger folks to get out and do these types of events because it instills pride and patriotism,” said Bamburg. “That’s going to be my goal for the rest of my life, to keep carrying on that patriotism.”
“Music, personally for me, it’s therapeutic,” he said. “A lot of veterans, when they’re in or when they get out, they have struggles. I certainly had mine, and music for me was a way out.”
As the morning concluded, organizers expressed hope that the event will continue growing in the years ahead, bringing even more members of the community together to remember, reflect, and honor those who served.
