An American flag, first flown by the U.S. military in combat, has set off on its nearly 14,000-mile “Rolling Remembrance” relay to help raise awareness and funds for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, an organization that provides college scholarships and educational counseling to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Through the course of the relay, 59 PepsiCo drivers, who are all also military veterans, will transport the American flag across the country, handing it off to one another from Seattle to New York.
The Rolling Remembrance will arrive at Papa John’s 2329 N. 5th St. Highway location on Friday, May 8, around 12:30 p.m., for a 1 p.m. ceremony. The local ceremony will include the Reading High School Color Guard, the Berks City Dept of Veteran Affairs, the Reading Fightin Phils, the Pennsylvania Benjamins, 830WEEU, elected officials, PepsiCo, free slices of pizza, prizes, games, and more.
According to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, nearly 25,000 children have lost a parent in the line of duty over the past 35 years. Many surviving families also struggle to make ends meet, with 52% of surviving spouses making less than $50,000 per year. This organization works to assist each of these children in their growing success through support that helps fund their education.
Rolling Remembrance has become an annual tradition at PepsiCo, and in its tenth year, has raised more than $3 million for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, which says the funds translate to more than 480 years of college for their scholars. Along this year’s route, there will be 64 stops at PepsiCo facilities and customer and partner locations, allowing thousands of PepsiCo employees and community members to gather to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, support the families left behind, and recognize the veterans who work at PepsiCo.
“We are proud to partner with PepsiCo for the 10th Annual Rolling Remembrance relay — a powerful tribute that honors the fallen by investing in the futures they left behind. Over the years, this program has not only funded life-changing educations for our Gold Star scholars but has also helped us reach new families who deserve our support. PepsiCo’s unwavering commitment is a driving force behind our mission, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership,” said David Kim, co-founder and CEO of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
For most of the year, the Rolling Remembrance flag is prominently displayed at PepsiCo’s global headquarters in Purchase, NY. On March 20, the Rolling Remembrance flag started its journey, carried by JetBlue, flying from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), first stopping by Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and is now continuing its 64-stop journey throughout the United States on the ground, carried on trucks on normal business routes. The relay will conclude with a ceremony as the flag returns to PepsiCo’s headquarters just before Memorial Day.
“I’m honored to mark the 10th year of Rolling Remembrance with Children of Fallen Patriots as our partner. The military veteran drivers at PepsiCo are always honored to get the chance to transport the Rolling Remembrance flag and shine a light on the importance of contributing to the education of military children who lost a parent in the line of duty,” said Jim Farrell, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo North America — Fleet & Transportation, and Executive Sponsor of PepsiCo Valor. “Rolling Remembrance supports the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation and also recognizes some of the incredible veteran drivers in our organization. It has been an honor to see this program and its impact grow over the past decade.”
The relay is run in partnership with PepsiCo’s employee resource group, PepsiCo Valor, which supports veteran PepsiCo employees and veterans in communities across the country. Rolling Remembrance reflects PepsiCo’s deep history of building an inclusive and respectful workplace culture. We thrive in bringing together the best talent, empowering people to grow, and delivering innovative products that meet the needs of our consumers. This legacy inspires the way we work today.
To donate to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, visit PepsiCo Rolling Remembrance 2025.
