LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Together they are traveling thousands of miles across the country honoring men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

At each stop they quote, “carry the load” of a fallen first responder or service member from that city. They taped the names of the fallen to their ruck packs. While in Louisville Tom Wendling, a retired firefighter from Dallas, carries the name of fallen Louisville firefighter Sean McAdam who passed away on May 11.

“This is a small penance for my little bit of responsibility and my honor to be able to carry for him…. It’s a brotherhood and sisterhood. If I couldn’t do this for them, that would be a shame,” Wendling says. Other members of “Carry the Load,” are currently traveling the east coast and American west.

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