KEEPING ALIVE THE MEMORY OF OTHERS. ♪ >> A LOT OF GUYS DIDN’T COME BACK. REPORTER: AT 99-YEARS-OLD, GEORGE YERED ADMITS HIS MEMORY ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE, BUT HE’LL NEVER FORGET THE FRIENDS WHO GAVE EVERYTHING. THESE VETERANS WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS DAY IS ABOUT THOSE WHO DIDN’T COME HOME. >> MY FATHER, A WORLD WAR I MARINE. AND ALL THE FRIENDS OF LOST IN KOREA AND VIETNAM. REPORTER: AND ASKED TO SUM UP THIS DAY IN ONE WORD, 96-YEAR-OLD LOUIS PICARIELLO OFFERED THIS. >> IT IS A SACRIFICE. REPORTER: EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE. REPORTER: ARMY VET AND BURLINGTON POLICE OFFICER JAKE DESANTIS IS ON MILE 39. HE’S WALKING FOR 24 HOURS STRAIGHT WITH HIS 40 POUND PLUS RUCK SACK, TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE VETERANS WHO DIED IN COMBAT, AND FOR THOSE LOST TO SUICIDE. HE WEARS SILVER REMEMBRANCE BANDS ON HIS WRIST IN HONOR OF HIS FALLEN COMRADS. -- FALLEN FRIENDS. REPORTER: THANK -- >> THANK A VETERAN, SHOW SUPPORT EVEN IF IT IS IN SILENCE. AS LONG AS PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS DAY IS MEANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THAT GAVE THE BLOOD SACRIFICE. REPORTER: JAKE WELCOMES ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN HIM IN A LAP, HE’LL BE AT THE BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL TRACK UNTIL MIDNIGHT, AND HE’S RAISING MONEY FOR THE

An Army veteran is walking for 24 hours straight on Memorial Day with a 40 pound rucksack

Updated: 7:47 PM EDT May 31, 2021

An Army veteran in Massachusetts is walking for 24 hours straight with his 40 pound rucksack to raise awareness and money to help other veterans who died in combat and for those lost to suicide.Jake DeSantis, who is a police officer, said that Memorial Day should be celebrated every day."Thank a veteran, show your support, even if it's in silence. Just as long as people acknowledge the fact that this day is meant to acknowledge those that have gave the blood sacrifice," DeSantis said.He was on mile 39 when he was interviewed by Boston sister station WCVB. DeSantis is raising money for The Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Fund.Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

BURLINGTON, Mass. —

An Army veteran in Massachusetts is walking for 24 hours straight with his 40 pound rucksack to raise awareness and money to help other veterans who died in combat and for those lost to suicide.

Jake DeSantis, who is a police officer, said that Memorial Day should be celebrated every day.

"Thank a veteran, show your support, even if it's in silence. Just as long as people acknowledge the fact that this day is meant to acknowledge those that have gave the blood sacrifice," DeSantis said.

He was on mile 39 when he was interviewed by Boston sister station WCVB.

DeSantis is raising money for The Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Fund.

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.