WISCONSIN — A 20,000-mile relay is making its way through Wisconsin to honor our fallen military and first responders.

The "Carry the Load" relay is a national effort that aims to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Mike Golden, also known as Goldy, started a journey with several others across the midwest to honor fallen veterans and first responders.

It began in Minnesota and is going through Wisconsin. The relay will continue on through Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, before ending in Texas. 

Golden said he hopes more people will join them.

“We like to get people stories, hear about their loved ones that served and we will carry them all the way back to Dallas with us,” said Golden.

He said hearing the stories of the countless military veterans inspires him to continue walking.

“This symbolizes the care that Americans have for those that have sacrificed everything to give us the freedoms that we have, to have the beliefs that we have. Many of the people on our bus are veterans are firefighters. We have police officers all walking and cycling across America to bring that awareness to the rest of the folks,” said Golden.

When Corrine D’Amato found out about the “Carry the Load” relay, it was an easy decision for her to be a part of it.

“My uncle was in the Army. My grandfather was in the Army. My other uncle was in the Air Force. My cousin is in the Navy so we have a lot of family blood out there. I mean it’s the ultimate sacrifice they go for and it’s the least I can do to help them,” said D'Amato.

There are multiple relays all across the country that will eventually meet in Texas on Memorial Day weekend.

For Golden, Carry the Load is also a reminder that those who served will never be forgotten.

“We put these people on our back and carry them all the way back to Dallas and we tell their stories to other people. One of the phrases you may have heard is people die twice. One is when they physically pass. The second is when people stop saying their name or telling their story. We are going to tell their story as long as we are around,” said Golden.

Golden said he will honor the sacrifice of the fallen and support them while they are living.

Carry the Load also raises funds to to support the military, veterans, first responders and their family. The full "Carry the Load" relay schedule can be found here.