In honor of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, the Dallas-based nonprofit Carry the Load cleaned headstones and beautified the grounds of the DFW National Cemetery on Friday.
Scores of volunteers showed up to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history and the 8,000 service members and contractors killed in the following Iraq War. Participants began early in commemorating the National Day of Service and Remembrance, also known as Patriot Day, volunteering their time and energy two days before 9/11.
Stephen Holley, co-founder, president, and CEO of Carry The Load and veteran U.S. Navy SEAL, said, “After serving on active duty post-9/11, many of us returned home having lost good men and women whom we served alongside.”
He continued, “This Patriot Day, I want to challenge Americans to do an act of service in their community, teach the next generation about how 9/11 unified our nation, and honor the memory of those left behind.”
This weekend, the nonprofit is hosting events nationwide to honor the country’s heroes.
“As a part of Carry The Load’s mission, we honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our military, veterans, first responders, and their families,” their website reads. “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.”
In addition to volunteer service projects, Carry The Load offers the Heroes Challenge — a fitness challenge designed by military experts to raise awareness of Carry The Load’s mission “to remember those who have served our country and encourage all Americans to participate in honoring them.”
In collaboration with the Veteran Affairs National Cemetery Administration, volunteers across the country also worked on 63 participating National Cemeteries.
