
Veterans awareness march to pass through Greenville on May 24
thairgrove@heraldbanner.com
On May 24 during Memorial Day weekend, Hunt County will once again be on the path of Carry the Load, an annual walk with the mission of raising awareness of America's veterans, especially those who died in the line of duty or took their own lives due to PTSD or other struggles.
Carry the Load is a nationwide event that started coming through Greenville 11 years ago as part of the walk's East Coast Relay, which moves from West Point, New York to Dallas.
In addition to supporting the country's military veterans, the walk also honors first responders.
Carry the Load is a nonprofit that was founded by a group of former Navy Seals to raise funds and awareness for both veterans and their surviving families.
The founders, in particular, designed the event with hopes of reminding communities of the meaning of Memorial Day.
So far, as the walk passes through Hunt County and Rockwall County on May 24, planned stops include the Greenville Farmers Market at around 12:30 p.m. and the Rockwall County Courthouse at 6 p.m.
After passing through Rockwall, the group will continue on its path to Reverchon Park in Dallas for the Dallas Memorial March on May 25.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
What it's like growing up with a Navy SEAL dad
Dispelling the myths and confirming the truths. I get asked a lot of ridiculous questions about my dad. They usually revolve around how many people he's killed, or how easily he can kill someone with one finger. On one hand, I get it. He's an interesting guy. My dad was a SEAL for decades. He commanded SEAL Team 6 from 1999 to 2003. He doesn't like it when I tell people that but ah well. He's fun to brag about. There's always been a mystique around SEALs. That mystique turned into borderline celebrity status following the War in Afghanistan and the legendary stories that followed. Yet here I am, almost 41 years old, still getting asked the same stupid questions about having a SEAL dad. I thought I'd put it all to rest. This is what it was like with both my dad and other SEALs around me. Levels of strictness My dad probably is a bit stricter than the average dad. SEALs aren't the kumbaya types, smiling after a mistake and saying, 'Now what did we all learn from this?' But it was never anything extreme. I can say, with certainty, that most marine dads are way stricter. SEAL communities are all about being tough, competent, and brave. They trade a lot of currency on those values. When they are around each other, that tough-guy culture can be heightened, particularly with younger SEALs who are eager to prove themselves. I suspect that for many, family life is a welcome break from a day job that involves 'being hard'. And they are generally smart enough to know that acting like a drill sergeant with your kids doesn't exactly build a great relationship. If there was ever a moment when my upbringing felt different, it was in my freshman year of high school. I was at a local private school. Many of the kids my age were quite spoiled. There was a memorable moment as we milled around before soccer practice. All my teammates were comparing how much their parents paid them to mow the lawn. Our coach was a bit mortified. I said, 'I mow the lawn, or else.' Coach looked at me, and with a smile said, "Sean knows what actual work is." It was a rare moment of affirmation that I wasn't used to getting. I also hung out with some of these kids. There was one incident where my friend got in a screaming match with his parents. It ended with him slamming the door in his dad's face after dropping an F-bomb. That wouldn't have gone over well at my house. There's a healthy level of respect that you should have your elders. It's good for a kid. But again, it wasn't crazy strict. SEAL communities are very teamwork-oriented. It necessitates a level of compassion, an ability to sense how your teammates are doing, and knowing when they are down or weak. That necessity instills a softer side in these guys that translates well to civilian life. Put more simply, they teach us a lot of lessons that don't involve beating up other kids. Not every nail requires the hammer. 'Why didn't you become a SEAL like your dad?' New rule. Don't ask that. The question is beat to death. And for inquiring minds, the gene just skipped me. I never felt that calling. Most team guys don't pressure their kids to be SEALs. I actually can't even name a single son who followed his father's footsteps. I don't even know of another dad who pressured their son to be a SEAL like him. It's an extreme career path, harder than most know, even after seeing all the movies and TV shows. If you aren't born with a burning desire, a primal urge to be a SEAL, you won't make it. It needs to be your Olympus. I'd speculate that many fathers feel the same trepidation that a pro athlete feels when their kid pursues a pro-sports career. They know how hard the path is and how many good people came up short. They probably don't want their kid living in their shadow. Also, serving messes a lot of these guys up. SEALs see a lot of bad stuff and have a lot of bad stuff happen to them. It leaves a lot of scars, many of them hidden. Sports and athleticism Most SEAL families I've known are indeed athletic. You won't meet many kids who can't swim. And I haven't met any SEALs, retired, or active, who are significantly overweight. In the community, staying physically fit is held in high regard. It's seen as a sign of work ethic and discipline. And it can definitely affect your upward mobility. If my belly started to grow too much, I'd hear noise about it. Heck, I still will. It's given me a tough inner voice that says, 'You are gaining weight. Time to work out.' It's good motivation. But fitness is a good value to take with you. Getting older isn't for wimps. You need to bring as many good habits with you as you can. The vow of silence One of the problems with all the dumb questions about ninja fighting techniques and kill counts is that I don't really know. My dad was deployed to warzones for literally half my life. He chased war criminals across Yugoslavia. He's spent months in remote, extremely dangerous environments. Anytime there was some crazy situation involving terrorists, he and his guys got the call. I don't have any illusions that he may have seen and done a few things. After all, it's in the job description. However, anytime I've asked, I've never gotten anywhere close to an answer. I actually stopped asking after childhood because, one, it's kind of rude, and two, because I don't particularly care to know. Most SEALs take that vow of secrecy very seriously. That is why there is always tension over these books that get written every now and then. It goes against their credos. The warrior philosophy 'I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.' — SEAL Creed. Most men who become SEALs have an underlying belief that evil exists in this world. They believe that becoming a SEAL grants them a great opportunity to not only rid the world of darkness, but also to protect the vulnerable from those who wish to do them harm. Being allowed to operate with, arguably, the most elite soldiers in the world is treated as a privilege. They are given access to the best training and equipment available. Their peers are as talented and loyal as one could ask for. Being able to serve and protect is seen as an honor. This flows into their parenting. They promote humility. They tend to be watchful of who their kids spend their time with. They know the importance of the company you keep. They also tend to have a strong orientation toward right and wrong (again, good vs evil), which they pass down. But it was never too bad. Growing up with a SEAL dad was a good experience. I have only lived one life, that I know of. Given the choice, I think I'd repeat. Even if I have to deal with a few dumb questions. Solve the daily Crossword


New York Post
28-07-2025
- New York Post
Inside ‘busy season' for hero local Coast Guard crew
These boots-on-the-ground rescues start from thousands of feet in the air. The busy season is just ramping up for the US Coast Guard's Air Station Atlantic City crew, which patrols the skies and conducts search-and-rescue operations from the Long Island Sound to the Chesapeake Bay, crew members told The Post in an exclusive interview Monday. Advertisement 'It was kind of a slow start to our busy season … but it's been picking up lately,' said Cmdr. Randall Slusher, a pilot whose team's coastal coverage includes that of the Big Apple, Jersey Shore and Long Island almost daily. 7 Coast Guard pilots Randy Slusher (left) and Tyler Smith of Air Sation Atlantic City pose after flying up the Jersey Shore to Manhattan on Monday. Aristide Economopoulos He said the colder spring months staved off droves of recreational boaters until after Memorial Day weekend — then all heck broke loose. Advertisement 'There's a lot of people out on the water this time of year, all trying to use the same space,' Slusher said. 'We'll have everything from boat crashes to jet skis getting stuck to people in the water, especially when riptides are heavy.' The eight-chopper fleet's more dramatic search-and-rescue operations involve crew members using giant baskets and slings to hoist people to safety while also regularly picking up and flying cruise-ship passengers for emergency medical treatment. It's not uncommon for training crews to be diverted to rescue missions while in the air, either. During Manhattan's Fleet Week in May, the team's own demonstration was diverted for an actual offshore search mission. Advertisement And 'last year, we had a case where the crew was doing a normal training on Saturday morning and upon coming back, saw someone … in the water, and we pulled him out,' pilot Lt. Tyler Smith said. 7 Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic, makes adjustments while flying over the Hudson River. Aristide Economopoulos 'We've recently had a few cases where you're flying around and seeing someone clinging to a boat or clinging into a jet ski,' Smith said. He said one of his most memorable saves involved rescuing two boaters in February when their vessel capsized off the coast of Staten Island, killing three other passengers. Advertisement The air station also assisted in search and rescue operations during the Baltimore bridge disaster in March. 'When you have to rescue people that really need help, it's hard to beat that — it's a rewarding experience,' Slusher said. 7 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal,' Timberlake told The Post. Aristide Economopoulos The jumpsuit-clad heroes provide air space security during presidential travel and major tri-state area events such as United Nations summits, too. In the wintertime, the crew even provides aid to duck hunters who frequently get stuck on the water, Slusher said. Jet ski incidents in particular have exploded recently, he said. Last week, the crew hoisted two jet skiers stuck in South Jersey marshland. 7 Slusher (left) and Smith return to Air Station Atlantic City after flying their MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. Aristide Economopoulos Slusher said one memorable incident occurred in 2016 when a pair of New Jersey teens stole their parents' jet skis and took them for a joy ride through the mud. Advertisement 'The cabin of the helicopter was a [muddy] disaster,' Smith recalled of the teens' rescue. 'I think they took a shower … and we gave them clothes so their mom could come pick them up.' False-alarm and prank distress calls are unfortunately a regular issue the crew has to deal with, too, he said. Prank calls can happen multiple times a week, but the crew still must treat every instance as if it were a real emergency, Slusher said. 7 Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, 24, talks about how he saved an elderly couple and their two dogs from a marooned boat in November. Aristide Economopoulos Advertisement 'We spend a lot of time flying on those,' he said. 'Very rarely is it actually someone in distress.' Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic who inspects the crew's choppers before and after each flight, said, 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal.' For 24-year-old helicopter rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, his first two years on the team have been nothing short of eventful. 7 Ruddell rescued a seasick boater from choppy Long Island Sound waters on Oct. 7 before driving the boat back to shore himself. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell Advertisement In October, Ruddell drove a distressed boater in the Long Island Sound back to shore after the boat's operator fell ill and his ship was taking on water, he said. The rescue operation also doubled as the first time Ruddell had ever operated a boat. 7 Ruddell (right) and his colleagues rescued two adults and their two dogs in the Chesapeake Bay in November. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell 'I had no idea how to drive a boat, I was just holding onto the steering wheel making sure we were going in the right direction,' the Florida native said. 'But the crazy thing is … I didn't have my phone, so I just followed my [smart] watch the entire time. Advertisement 'There's crazy days, but it's really fun,' he added. Roughly a month after the Long Island rescue, Ruddell and his crew members pulled two elderly boaters and their two dogs to safety after they were beached for hours in rising tides on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. '[The boat operator] wasn't following the correct path, and they got caught at low tide,' he said. 'Everyone was alright, but they would've gotten hypothermia if they were there for much longer. 'You can't really train for the cases that you're gonna get,' Ruddell said. 'You really have to adapt, and overcome the cases that you do get.'


San Francisco Chronicle
27-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Mt. Tam railroad's last survivor restored and ready for new role at California museum
SACRAMENTO — Early morning commuters on Highway 37 Friday would have been taken aback by an ancient mode of transportation rolling alongside the old passenger railroad tracks that once connected Marin County to Vallejo and the world beyond. It was Engine No. 9, the last relic of the fabled Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, on a tractor trailer headed up the line to Sacramento. The steam locomotive, built in 1921 and lettered in gold, was bound for the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, where it will go on public display in August. This completes a seven-year restoration effort by Friends of No. 9, a nonprofit that sank $500,000 and 15,000 volunteer hours into arriving at this point. 'This is like a coronation for us,' said Fred Runner, President of Friends of No. 9, the Novato nonprofit that got the job done. The engine was delivered in a five-vehicle parade from Sebastopol to Sacramento, led by Sheedy Drayage of San Francisco, which transported the 36-ton load of iron and steel, free of charge. 'To be invited to the CSRM is like having a vintage car invited to show at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach,' Runner said. 'It's a very rare thing that just doesn't happen. But it did.' As a teaser for the railroad museum display, No. 9 was brought by the same Sheedy Drayage trailer to the Mill Valley Depot over Memorial Day weekend. It made its public premiere in the town parade, with its bell ringing and the whistle blowing and smoke coming out of the engine. 'There was a tremendous display of enthusiasm by people who loved the engine and thought it should stay at the depot,' Runner said. But by then the train was already rolling to Sacramento, a commitment made a year ago, when it was still in mid-restoration at a workshop. That was a job that took five years from the moment it was purchased at auction up near Eureka, where it had sat out in the weather gathering rust for 62 years. 'We are lucky that there is this marvelous group of obsessives that tracks these old steam engines,' said Runner, who led a team that outbid five other obsessive parties to muster up the winning bid of $56,240 to buy No. 9. There were 15 members of the bidding party, most of whom were devoted to the lore of the old Mount Tam railroad line and knew this was the last remaining piece of it. 'There is this whole fabric of stories about the lore of Mount Tam, and the railroad is at the center of it,' said Runner, a movie sound mixer who worked on 'Basic Instinct,' 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Total Recall' and most recently 'Top Gun: Maverick,' which won an Academy Award for sound two years ago. 'As a moviemaker I'm interested in stories, and the stories about Mount Tam are tremendous,' Runner said. The story of the Mount Tam railway, which called itself 'the crookedest little railroad in the world,' was told in the 1980s in 'Steaming Up Tamalpais,' a short documentary by Mill Valley filmmaker Cris Chater. Runner saw it at the Mill Valley Film Festival and started tracing the tourist railroad line, which was built in 1896 and scrapped in 1930. Its 8.1 miles of track from the Mill Valley depot to the Mount Tam summit — 281 turns later — had been ripped out, as was the 2-mile spur into Muir Woods. Only Engine No. 9 survived, probably because it was still new with life left in it when the railway closed so it wasn't sold for scrap. It worked an additional 25 years hauling lumber from the forest to the mills. 'Amazingly it didn't get melted down to turn into weapons during World War II,' Runner said. No. 9 was no longer in running condition when the Friends bought it at auction, and it is still not in running condition because the boiler would need to be rebuilt and certified at a cost of $150,000, he estimated. The engine is 34 feet long, 12 feet high and 9 feet wide, and every aspect including the nonworking boiler was taken apart piece by piece. It was all repaired, cleaned, greased and then put back together — tender, cab, boiler, frame, even the assembly for the steel wheels. 'The restoration of the No. 9 represents the very best impulses of the preservation community,' said Ty Smith, director of the California State Railroad Museum. 'Although the locomotive won't steam passengers up Mount Tamalpais, it serves as a window into a remarkable episode in California history. We're grateful to be able to share in telling this important story.' When it arrived by caravan Friday morning, No. 9 was put onto the museum's railroad track and pushed along to its display stage. At that point, Runner was allowed to sit in the engineer's seat and listen to the valves open and close while No. 9 was actually moving on live track for the first time since 1953. It went only a few hundred feet, but the ride was smooth, thanks to 16 new springs. 'To feel the engine actually moving and hearing it hiss was a thrill,' he said. The engine was then removed to storage space, to allow museum staff time to finalize the exhibit. No. 9 will be up for six months with a possible extension, but it still needs a permanent home. 'While it is in Sacramento, we are working on it,' Runner said. 'It's an extraordinary piece of local history that deserves to be remembered.'