Patriot Day Archives - Carry The Load

September 12, 2024

‘It’s humbling’: Volunteers help beautify National Cemetery on Sept. 11

Salisbury Post

By: Karen Kistler

SALISBURY — Respect, honoring and giving back were the common threads that ran through people’s comments on what brought them out to be a part of the Carry The Load volunteer opportunity at the Salisbury National Cemetery Annex on Sept. 11. Twenty-plus people from Salisbury and the surrounding communities came together to observe Patriot Day and help with a community project of cleaning headstones and beautifying the grounds at the cemetery on the special National Day of Service and Remembrance. Carry The Load is a national nonprofit “that brings Americans together to recognize the sacrifices made by a few who carried the load for all,” said Renee Cossman, communications director with Carry The Load, which was founded in 2011 by veteran U.S. Navy Seals Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley.

Cossman noted that the local event was organized through “Carry The Load’s partnership with the VA’s National Cemetery Administration, working with Salisbury, N.C., directors and local Carry The Load supporters.” This volunteer event in Salisbury was one of more than 60 national cemeteries across the nation where volunteers were scheduled to gather and help. Many of those who came and volunteered at the local cemetery were veterans themselves or had family members who have served and wanted to give back.

Roger Chrysler organized a group of approximately 15 from Lithko Contracting in Concord to come and volunteer. He noted that probably 70 percent of those who were there with the company group were veterans, including himself, and most of the others had family members or someone in the service, “so we decided we would get as many people as we could out and do as much as we could today.” Jeff Ellison, a member of the Lithko group, said he served for 20 years in the Marine Corps, “so I wanted to give back.” With it being Sept. 11, the need to provide support and noting his time of service in the United States Air Force, were reasons why Sean Empey, also with Lithko, said he felt it was important to be there.

Honoring family and others who have served is what Lithko employee Luke Birchenough said as he mentioned his grandfather, brother and brother-in-law who have served. So he came to clean and “honor those men and women that have served as well,” he said.

Remembering her dad, a Vietnam veteran, who committed suicide and is buried in the cemetery, Raina Chrysler came to give of her time to help. She shared that the company she worked for last year came and helped and her husband, Roger, came with her then, and, “we made it bigger this year,” she said. Both Rebecca Taylor, who said this was her second year to volunteer, and Melody Gale said they have a military background with their families and coming to volunteer on this day was a way to give back to the community, and as Gale added, “in honor of them and all that served.” Jason Faith, who volunteered with the Lithko Contracting group, felt it was important to be a part of the day and “give back to the guys and women who gave their life for us to live in this country and be able to do what we want to do and just come and honor them for the day.” He also wanted to make sure that the headstones looked good and presentable for the families when they visited.

Using the day as a teaching opportunity is what Autumn Price was doing as she and sons, Joshua and Caleb Price, were there to volunteer their time. Plus, Joshua was volunteering for his school, Indian Land High School. Having read some history on Salisbury, she said she had learned about the Confederate prison and the bad conditions there and that many Union soldiers were buried in the Salisbury National Cemetery. “So I just wanted to pay tribute to all the people who fought for us. There are African Americans that fought. There are white people that fought on the Union side, and I just wanted my kids to see how important it is to serve our community and pay tribute to the people in this area that did this for us,” said Autumn Price. Joshua Price said that his dad was a veteran, and he thought coming here to help support veterans was “really nice.” As they were making their way to clean a certain area in the cemetery, Laura and Michael Keen shared why they felt it was important to come on this day as Laura said, “respect.”

She added that while those buried there in the cemetery are not necessarily related to 9/11, she did say, “just respect of sacrifice.” Michael said that it was “a good opportunity to honor those that have served and a way to give back” as Laura added “because we are a lucky generation.” Telling that it was an honor to be there and be able to help and give back is what drew Melissa Acla to volunteer as well as wanting “to be able to feel like I was a part of something big.” “Preserving the sanctity of Memorial Day through community gatherings and storytelling to unite Americans in appreciation for the sacrifices made by a few who carried the load for all,” is the mission of Carry The Load, said Cossman. Therefore, she said, they encourage people to come out and volunteer in honor of those who sacrificed on or because of 9/11. People can come and share their stories and “educate the next generation that freedom is not free.” With it being Sept. 11 and remembering that many men and women sacrificed their lives on this date, Acla said of the day and opportunity, “it’s humbling.”

View the full story here.

September 12, 2024

9/11 with Quincy National Cemetery service project

Quincy Herald-Whig

By: Daniel Bethers

QUINCY — Quincy commemorated 9/11 on Wednesday, remembering the thousands —343 first responders — who lost their lives.

A brief ceremony was held at the 9/11 monument in front of City Hall in remembrance of the victims.

In parallel remembrance of loss and those who served their country, volunteers headed to Quincy National Cemetery directly following the ceremony to pay their respects to the veterans interned there and perform maintenance as a service to those who live on and remember through the facility.

“It was solemn and it was an honor,” said Barbara Fletcher, who served as a sergeant E-5 in Germany for 13 years. “It is always my privilege to honor anybody who serves. First responders are out there offering and giving their lives in service to their community, just as us veterans serve our country. It’s a big brotherhood and we have a lot of affinity for first responders, many of whom are veterans themselves.”

According to Keokuk National Cemetery Caretaker and Supervisor Brent Inskeep, the Quincy National Cemetery originated as a Civil War-era soldier’s lot in Woodland Cemetery. Burials began as early as 1861 but it wasn’t until 1882 that it was officially recognized as national cemetery.

The headstone cleaning was organized by Carry the Load, a national organization dedicated to restoring the meaning of Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays.

“There were probably about a dozen volunteers … cleaning the headstones,” Fletcher said. “We were provided with cleaning supplies. The headstones there are beautiful white marble and it was a privilege to make sure they stay beautiful, white and presentable.”

The headstones date to the spring 1882 when they were issued by the government for the 221 Union soldiers in the lot.

No clear explanation is known, but in 1899 all 300 soldier remains were relocated to their current resting place in Graceland Cemetery off Maine Street, minus some commemorative Civil War munitions and guns. With time, the rest of the cemetery was redeveloped, giving what is now the Quincy National Cemetery.

“Even though it is a smaller cemetery closed to first interments, visitors still come out and show support for relatives, friends — even some that have nobody interred at the cemetery,” Inskeep said. “The opportunity to walk the hallowed grounds and learn about the history of the cemetery while (enjoying) the pristine upkeep of the cemetery shows the local community the pride the employees of the National Cemetery Administration take in caring for our veterans’ and their families’ final resting place … by volunteering their time and energy, (residents) help keep alive the memory not just of the victims of September 11th, but of the countless men and women who served in our Armed Forces or as first responders before and after that fateful day.”

After the cleaning, a free lunch was offered at the American Legion Post 37 for participants and first responders.

“I definitely agree with veterans paralleling what they’ve done with first responders,” said Quincy Police Department Detective Sgt. Adam Gibson. “Many of us made sacrifices. It’s nice to be honored, although most of us don’t do the job to be honored. We understand doing the job — it’s a thankless job (but) we still continue to move forward.”

View the full story here.

September 12, 2024

Patriot Day of Service Volunteers clean headstones at Alexandria National Cemetery.

Alexandria Gazette

By: Jeanne Theismann

More than 100 volunteers turned out Sept. 11 at Alexandria National Cemetery to participate in a Patriot Day of Service to honor and remember the nation’s heroes on the anniversary of those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The volunteers worked in partnership with VFW Post 609 and Carry the Load, a Veterans Service organization, to clean the more than 4,000 headstones located in the cemetery.

“Every year on Patriot Day, Americans are asked to treat the day as an opportunity to do some sort of national public service,” said Col. Gerry Krueger, Commander of VFW Post 609. “Our way of doing that is to join with Carry the Load and the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to honor several thousand military veterans who have served our country honorably. We do this by cleaning their tombstones, saying their names out loud, and saluting them, to assure them their service to our country is not forgotten.”

Part of Carry the Load’s mission is to “honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our military, veterans, first responders, and their families. That’s why on Patriot Day, we encourage all Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served and those who were called to serve due to the events on September 11, 2001.”

The event kicked off with remarks by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration representative Danny Devine, local VFW Post 609 member and Carry the Load ambassador Danielle Applegate, and AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith.

“This is a way to honor the sacrifice of those we have loved and lost,” said Applegate, who is also the chair of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. “We say their names so they are not forgotten.”

Alexandria National Cemetery is one of the original national cemeteries founded by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The historic nature of the headstones means that only a sponge and water are used to clean the headstones so as to not cause any damage.

Patriot Day volunteers partnered with Carry the Load to help clean headstones and beautify more 60 VA National Cemeteries across the nation. All 4,229 headstones were cleaned as part of the efforts in Alexandria.

The event is co-sponsored by the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration with local VFW Post 609 serving as host.

“Today is a special day for our nation,” said volunteer Alexandra Gal. “It’s a great cause and gives me the chance to stop and reflect.”

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

Grafton High School students volunteer at West Virginia National Cemetery

WBOY 12 News

By: Jalyn Lamp

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — As a way to honor those before them, Grafton High School students took time out of their day on Wednesday to give back to veterans.

About 30 Grafton High School students spent their Wednesday morning helping wash headstones at the West Virginia National Cemetery in honor of Patriots Day.

The West Virginia National Cemetery hosts ceremonies during Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and for Wreaths Across America which typically brings volunteers to help clean headstones. Though cemetery director, Richard Colosky, mentioned that volunteers for Patriot Day haven’t really caught on.

“I think it’s important to get the youth involved, especially an event like this because most of these kids weren’t even alive when Sept. 11 happened. It’s nice to see that they’re coming out and contributing to keeping the memory alive of the veterans who have served and put forward some community service. It helps the cemetery greatly in keeping our national shrine standards,” said Colosky.

You can get involved and volunteer at the West Virginia National Cemetery by contacting the cemetery through its phone number, 304-265-2044, and by getting involved with organizations like Wreaths Across America.

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

West Virginia National Cemetery hosts headstone cleaning event in honor of Patriot Day

WDTV CBS 5 West Virginia

By: Tanner Gilmartin

GRAFTON, W.Va (WDTV) - As we remember those we’ve lost in the September 11th terrorist attack, it’s also a day to remember the men and women who have died for this country before and after 9/ll. on Wednesday, volunteers at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton went above and beyond to ensure that honor.

“We just keep the headstones clean,” said Richard Colosky, the West Virginia National Cemetery Director. “We make sure we’re getting any type of objectional accumulation, and the big thing to keep them clean as if you don’t stay up on this, they can get algae or liken, and then eventually if they’re not taken care of properly, it ends up all black and you won’t even be able to read the names.”

Colosky explains a headstone-cleaning process. He and other staff joined volunteers today as part of the ‘Carry the Load’ initiative, which works to beautify headstones at 67 national cemeteries across the nation. This preserves the final resting place of those who paid the ultimate price for the United States of America.

“You have to be able to come in and read the veterans’ names, the veterans and the people who come to visit deserve that,” Colosky said. “This is not the only time these gravestones get cleaned, we clean these headstones twice a year. It’s the national standard for national cemeteries to keep these headstones clean. We go through assessments twice a year that grade the quality.”

The cemetery in Grafton has been taking part in ‘Carry the Load’ for a few years now, and this year it had one of its biggest crowds of volunteers. Most of the volunteers, and students, weren’t even alive at the time of the 9/11 attack or during wars for which these veterans fought. Even so, one student, Payden Moon told 5News that he’s all too familiar with the importance of remembering those who we’ve lost.

“A lot of my family members served in the military,” said Moon. “Grandpa, my mom’s stepdad, a real long line of military background. My great-grandpa survived Pearl Harbor. It means a lot to me to come out and show these graves of deceased individuals some respect.”

Moon and his peers cleaned over 1,800 headstones in under three hours

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

Volunteers clean National Cemetery to mark 9/11

WREG CBS Memphis

By: Alan Selph

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Wednesday marked a somber anniversary — 23 years since the 9/11 attacks.

As we remember the lives lost, a national nonprofit is calling on Americans to come together and honor those who sacrificed for our freedom.

Carry The Load is a nonprofit founded by two Navy SEALs. Wednesday, the group hosted a National Day of Service and Remembrance at Memphis National Cemetery.

Volunteers cleaned headstones and the grounds, joining efforts at 67 National Cemeteries across the country.

“With fifty of us, I’m going to guess we’ll probably clean six or seven hundred headstones today,” said Sean O’Brien, a veteran and coordinator. He shared his 9/11 memories.

“I was a part of the Air National Guard at the time, a full time guardsman. We went out to do a project,” he said. “When 9/11 hit, I was woken up from the numbers I was working and told to look at the TV, and when we got there the second plane hit.”

Another volunteer, JaiKeisha Forrest-Andrews, says she has friends who lost loved ones in the attack and still struggle to talk about it today.

“I had a couple of coworkers who, one son and another one who lost a husband,” she said. “To talk to them is still painful. For them to know that they lost their loved ones, just traveling, trying to get back home.”

O’Brien emphasizes the importance of community gatherings like this to keep memories alive and ensure sacrifices aren’t forgotten.

View the full story here.

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September 11, 2024

Volunteers clean headstones at Bay Pines National Cemetery 23 years after 9/11

FOX 13 Tampa Bay

By: Kailey Tracy

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - At Bay Pines National Cemetery, several volunteers cleaned veterans' headstones as part of the non-profit, "Carry the Load's" National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.

Colonel Beverly Smith-Tillery, who served in the Army for more than two decades as an intensive care nurse and deployed to Iraq, said scrubbing the headstones had even more of a meaning on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

"Everybody that was affected, I pray for them, and I say we cannot let this happen again," Smith-Tillery said. "It made me know that there were terrorists out there who really intended to destroy the United States, and we needed to stop them.

Smith-Tillery, her husband and several others scrubbed veterans’ headstones at the cemetery on the 23rd anniversary of 9/11.

"We all lost a day of our life that day, and I think it's important to be out here at this cemetery scrubbing these headstones," Ward Murphy, another volunteer, said. "These veterans that died for us, and we need to be out here today. I think it's really important."

"The country is still healing from it, and I think today is a perfect day to be able to do something like this," Murphy said.

Carry the Load's volunteers at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg joined more than 2,000 volunteers nationwide, cleaning headstones at 67 national cemeteries.

"The men and women who were here today helping to clean these headstones, they remember 9/11, and they are still touched by it," Kirk Leopard, the executive director for Bay Pines and Florida National Cemeteries, said. "They want other people to remember as well."

Honoring the fallen, the volunteers said, by keeping their memory alive and making sure no one ever forgets.

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

Volunteers pay tribute on 9/11 by cleaning Knoxville National Cemetery

WATE News 6 On Your Side

By: Gregory Raucoules

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As the nation remembers and honors those lost in the September 11 attacks, volunteers in Knoxville paid tribute by helping clean up a veterans’ cemetery.

Dozens of people met up at the Knoxville National Cemetery, a United States National Cemetery first established in 1863 during the Civil War, to clean the cemetery grounds and gravestones.

Joseph Stewart, a maintenance worker at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, explained the significance of having volunteers on hand on Patriot Day.

“It gives them a time to reflect on September 11 and share stories of what they remember from September 11,” Stewart said. “And not forget what happened and to keep that tradition going.”

“This cemetery is one of our older cemeteries. We have a lot of big oak trees here and they tend to leave a lot of debris. So it is strenuous, but it is very rewarding in the same process. When you’re doing this you read the inscriptions on the headstones and when you get that headstone back to its sparkling white shine and so forth, it’s a very rewarding feeling when it’s finished.”

The event was organized by the national veterans nonprofit Carry The Load, which works to preserve the sanctity of veterans’ memorials. The group set up volunteering opportunities at 67 national cemeteries across the country, with more than 2,000 participants nationwide.

“It’s kind of near and dear to my heart,” said volunteer Crystal Widemer. “My husband is a veteran, so anything I can do to help give back to the community for those that served and gave their sacrifice for the country, I’m all about.”

Event volunteer Savanah Sommerfeld told 6 News she participated to honor her family members who served in the military as well as her friend Ryan Knauss, the U.S. Army Staff Sgt. from Corryton who was killed by a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport during the final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

9/11 cleanup effort beautifies Little Rock National Cemetery

THV11 CBS Little Rock

By: Carter Thweatt

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Wednesday, volunteers gathered at the Little Rock National Cemetery for the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

They picked up trash and cleaned the headstones of fallen heroes at the cemetery, which was first used to bury Union soldiers in 1866.

Two years later, it became a national cemetery, serving as the final resting place for service members and their loved ones for several generations.

"These are hallowed grounds,” Cemetery Foreman John Barnett said. “These are heroes buried here."

That's why people like Sarah Meeks gathered on Wednesday to remember heroes from 9/11 and other days of loss in American history.

"My father and several uncles are veterans,” Meeks said. “My dad was in the Marine Corps, so I think it's really important for us to remember."

And not just remember, but also give back.

Carry the Load, a nonprofit, and the National Cemetery Administration sponsored the event as volunteers spent the morning beautifying the cemetery.

Maybelline Redix from North Little Rock said when she remembers the sacrifices made on 9/11, spending a morning cleaning graves doesn't seem all that bad.

"Individuals took the time to help us all out,” Redix said. "I think it's very important that we take the time to give them the treatment they gave us. They’re so deserving."

Barnett said he remembers well the uncertainty and tragedy of that day 23 years ago.

He also served in the National Guard, so for him, service like this means just a little more.

"To me, it's personal,” Barnett said. “I remember it. I served afterward, and it does hit home for a lot of folks."

He said that this was the second year the cemetery has hosted this event, and added that as long as there are heroes to be remembered, he expects it to continue in future years.

"Heroes don't have to wear capes and they don't have to win medals,” Barnett said. “Everybody that served, served in their capacity and did what they're asked to do. That's why we honor them."

This cleanup wasn’t the only one happening Wednesday. Carry the Load sponsored 67 similar events at cemeteries nationwide.

View the full story here.

September 11, 2024

Volunteers clean headstones at Nashville National Cemetery in remembrance of 9/11

WKRN ABC 2 News Nashville

By: Sam Chimenti

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)– Multiple events were held across Nashville to recognize the 23rd anniversary of 9/11.

At the Nashville National Cemetery, more than 30 volunteers from different organizations and backgrounds came together to clean headstones in honor and remembrance of veterans.

“It’s a really heartwarming feeling to see people come out here and give back and show that they actually care,” said Jeremiah Klatt, assistant director of the cemetery. Klatt served in the Army, a decision he said was motivated by the tragedy on September 11, 2001.

“I was in the fifth grade when 9/11 happened and joined the military because of that; because I wanted to fight for something,” said Klatt. “With everything going on in the world, I think this positive moment, we’re not as bad as people think we are. Maybe it’ll kind of go in an upward trend where people will start helping each other more often.”

“It really is an honor to give back to the families and veterans, be a part of that community for so long. I’m grateful for it,” said one volunteer, who is the wife of a veteran.

“This is my first time doing something like this. I didn’t know such type of things occurred. It just feels good to give back in any way that you can,” added another volunteer.

There are roughly 30,000 headstones at the Nashville National Cemetery. Of course, volunteers did not get to all of them on Wednesday, but instead they spent several hours maintaining the section of Civil War veterans.

The cemetery does volunteer cleanings a few times a year. On 9/11, it was an exercise packed with patriotism.

“Everyone is sacrificing something to make this world a better place, this country a better place, their community a better place,” said Klatt. “And I think that’s what makes us so great as well, being Americans, we’re willing to do more for others.”

View the full story here.

Patriot Day

Salisbury Post

Quincy Herald-Whig

Alexandria Gazette

WBOY 12 News

WDTV CBS 5 West Virginia

WREG CBS Memphis

FOX 13 Tampa Bay

WATE News 6 On Your Side

THV11 CBS Little Rock

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