Participants in the second annual Ruck March gathered at Arnold City Park after walking from the Arnold VFW Hall in honor of Memorial Day.

The second annual Memorial Day weekend Ruck March began at the VFW Hall in Arnold with a clear purpose: to remember the men and women who never came home.

Participants gathered outside the hall before stepping off toward Arnold City Park and back, many carrying American flags as Arnold police provided an escort along the entire route. The event blended solemn remembrance with visible community support, as passing vehicles slowed, waved, honked, and gave way to the procession.

A March With a Personal Purpose

For organizer Matt Saller, the march is not simply a community event. It is deeply personal.

Saller, a Marine Corps veteran, said Memorial Day has always carried a different weight for him and his family. While many families use the holiday weekend for travel, cookouts or time away, Saller said his family has long treated the day as sacred.

He said that when someone has lost friends in service, Memorial Day “hits a little different.” For years, Saller marked the day privately, sometimes walking with only a friend or two. Last year, his wife encouraged him to invite others to participate.

At first, Saller was unsure whether people would come out on a holiday weekend for something so serious and physically demanding. But the first event drew enough support to make it clear there was a place for it in Arnold. This year, the march grew even larger.

Duty, Honor and Sacrifice

Before the walk began, Saller welcomed the crowd and thanked everyone for showing up to honor the fallen. The opening included a moment of silence and a three-gun salute symbolizing Duty, Honor and Sacrifice.

Then the march began.

Participants carried American and military flags as they walked from the Arnold VFW Hall to Arnold City Park and back.

The walk to the first intersection was led by 101-year-old World War II veteran Vernon Wilkes, who participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Saller said the moment carried special meaning for him because his own grandfather also served in World War II, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and was a life long member of the Arnold VFW.

That connection between generations was visible throughout the march. Older veterans walked alongside younger veterans, families and children. Some participants carried flags for the entire route, while children were given the chance to double time to the flag and trade off leading the procession.

Children Help Carry the Meaning Forward

Saller said the presence of children was one of the most meaningful parts of the day. He believes involving young people helps preserve the cultural importance of Memorial Day and teaches them that the flag, military service and sacrifice are not abstract ideas.

Along the route, participants exchanged stories about family members who had served, friends who had been lost and the importance of veteran communities like the VFW. For some, the march was a chance to honor a loved one. For others, it was a way to stand publicly in support of those who served and those who never returned.

Families, children and veterans gathered outside V.F.W. Post 2593 before stepping out for the Memorial Day weekend march.

Arnold Shows Its Support

The Arnold Police Department’s escort helped guide the march safely through the route. The show of support from the community was not limited to those walking. Drivers stopped, waved and honked. Some people who were unable to participate in the full march still offered congratulations and salutes as the group passed by.

Saller said that kind of community support matters, especially for veterans who may not always realize how many people care.

The VFW as a Place to Come Home

For Saller, the VFW is more than a building. It is a place where veterans can find understanding, friendship and family. He said younger veterans, especially those with work and family obligations, often put off getting involved. But he believes organizations like the VFW and Marine Corps League can provide support that is hard to find elsewhere.

He said veterans do not need to attend every meeting or take on major responsibilities immediately. The important thing is to make the connection.

He also emphasized that the VFW’s mission is not about personal gain, but about supporting veterans and preserving a place where they can come home to people who understand what they have been through.

The mission of the day also extended beyond the march itself. All proceeds from T-shirt sales went to Irreverent Warriors, an organization focused on eliminating veteran suicide and helping returning service members find connection, support, and community.

The march concluded back at Arnold VFW Post 2593, where the day’s spirit of remembrance, service, and sacrifice continued. After the walk, participants gathered for food provided by VFW Post 2593, the Auxiliary, and Wesley Rogers.**

A Tradition Built to Continue

As the march returned to the VFW, the purpose of the day remained clear. It was not about politics, spectacle or celebration. It was about remembrance.

Saller said one moment in particular stood out to him. When he looked up before speaking and saw the size of the crowd gathered, he realized the march had become something that would continue.

For Saller, Memorial Day remains a promise. A promise to remember. A promise to honor the fallen. A promise to make sure the community does not forget the cost of the freedoms it enjoys.

Organizer Matt Saller salutes during the opening tribute at the Arnold VFW before the second annual Ruck March.

In Arnold, that promise was carried step by step, flag by flag, from the VFW Hall to Arnold City Park and back.

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