All Vets, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, announced the third annual All Vets Memorial Ruck event will be held Saturday, May 23.
More than 50 participants are expected to take part in the 20-mile countywide rucking event through Henry County and Martinsville during Memorial Day weekend. Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office will accompany the group as participants carry hundreds of American, service and POW/MIA flags in their rucksacks, each representing a fallen service member.
The event will begin at 6 a.m. at Jack Dalton Park, 130 Jack Dalton Road, Collinsville. Participants are expected to return around 2 p.m., when community members are invited to help finish the ruck by joining a Walk of Remembrance around the park.
The park will be decorated with flags and patriotic symbols. Following the walk, All Vets will host a storytelling presentation at the park shelter to honor veterans who have died and reflect on their lives and service. Organizers also will discuss the significance of the POW/MIA table, which symbolizes a place setting for one and a table for all.
Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mark Boniface will serve as guest speaker and discuss the importance of Memorial Day.
Flags purchased for the team to carry may be taken home after the event. Proceeds from the event will support programs aligned with All Vets’ mission.
Founded in August 2024 by Henry County native and Marine Corps veteran S. Patrick Rodgers, All Vets is led by a board of directors and subcommittees made up of veterans, retired military personnel, active-duty service members, military families and community members.
The organization’s mission is to “Honor the Fallen and Strengthen the Living.” In addition to the Memorial Ruck, All Vets organizes events including the annual 9/11 Stair Climb and the Henry County Veterans Honor Trail. The organization also promotes physical activity and wellness among veterans and community members.
More information is available on the organization’s Facebook page and website.
