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

September 12, 2024

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.”

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

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