Each year, Samsung Electronics America employees from across the country gather to honor the sacrifices made by members of the military, veterans, first responders and their families during the annual Carry The Load national relay event.
For 2020, in light of the COVID-19 health crisis, the annual relay event has gone virtual. Participants across the country are recognizing those close to them by walking, running, riding or participating in a patriotic act to honor the sacrifices these heroes have made.
To kick off “Memorial May,” a few members of the Samsung Veteran’s Community shared this video to highlight who they are “Carrying The Load” for.
See how other Samsung employees, many who are also members of the Samsung Veterans Community, are “Carrying The Load” in this year’s virtual event.
Melissa Greco (above), Senior Manager, Supply Chain, is “Carrying The Load” for her Grandfather a WWII and Korean War veteran, her nephew Tommy LeBeau, a corrections officer, her niece Emily LeBeau, a nurse and her team from the 4th floor of St. Luke’s Hospital in Pennsylvania and all frontline medical professionals. Melissa has also committed to honoring veterans by performing 22 push-ups each day – the number of veterans who take their own lives every 24 hours.
Michael Rentas (above), District Manager Retail Sales, is “Carrying The Load” for his former squad leader SFC Joseph McKay who was killed in action on June 26, 2008 in Afghanistan after more than 30 years of service.
Joseph Elvir (left), Field Sales Manager, is “Carrying The Load” for his nephew Adrian, who recently enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2019. Joseph sends his nephew daily devotions from a book the Carry The Load Foundation uses, Strength for Service To God and Community.
Larss Ogren (left), Business Operations Center-Order Management, is “Carrying The Load” for his wife Gia Incardone’s (right) grandfather Master Chief Frank Giaimo who served in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. During the Month of May, Larss pledged to walk between 1.5 and 2 miles each day in honor of Master Chief Giaimo.
John Hine (2nd from left), Field Sales Manager, is “Carrying The Load” for former shipmate and friend, Navy Petty Officer Andy Lavender (far right). After the Navy, Lavender embarked on a 29-year career in law enforcement before passing away in 2019.
The Samsung Electronics America Veterans Community is an employee-led resource group whose mission is to foster internal networking and employee engagement, give back to community-based veterans’ support organizations and provide mentorship to newly hired veterans.