September 11, 2024

Hundreds of volunteers beautify DFW National Cemetery to mark 9/11 anniversary

NBC 5 DFW

By: Alanna Quillen

On Wednesday, hundreds of volunteers gave back to fallen heroes at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. The efforts were part of Patriot Day, a nationally recognized day of service to mark the 9/11 anniversary.

Volunteers spread out across the more than 600-acre cemetery, hand-scrubbing thousands of headstones and beautifying the hallowed grounds.

The nonprofit Carry the Load organized the event, which aimed to restore the true meaning of veteran holidays like Memorial Day, and hosted events to connect the public with outreach benefitting veterans and their families.

For many, it was a fulfilling way to observe such a dark moment in our country’s history.

“On Patriot Day, we encourage Americans to honor the memory of 9/11 by serving in their communities and sharing stories of the first responders and military who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe,” said Stephen Holley, co-founder, president, and CEO of Carry The Load and Veteran U.S. Navy SEAL.

Organizers said that as time goes on, there will be more younger generations who didn’t experience 9/11, and these service efforts will create teachable moments for them.

“I have three young daughters, all born after Sept. 11. And for me, I was in the Marine Corps on Sept. 11 at the station in Virginia. So I was directly, kind of, involved as that day, as it unfolded and tragically lost so many lives,” said Judd Word, a Dallas firefighter and Carry the Load ambassador. “It’s very important to make sure that we’re continuing to educate the younger generation, make sure that they know what happened and understand why it’s so important to remember this day.”

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Hundreds of volunteers beautify DFW National Cemetery to mark 9/11 anniversary

NBC 5 DFW

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