Events

Featured Events

Memorial May

Honor the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes through community events held nationwide throughout May

9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance

Remember and honor the heroes and victims of September 11th.

Veterans Day

Celebrate and thank those who have bravely served our nation.

Upcoming Events

Apr 27

All day

Memorial May – Congers, NY

Apr 28

All day

Memorial May – Staten Island, NY

Apr 28

All day

Memorial May – New York City, NY

Apr 29

All day

Memorial May – Wilmington, DE

Apr 30

All day

Memorial May – Kent, WA

View Calendar

See all events →
Engage With Us

Get Involved

Find an Event
Founders Brigade

Honor & Remember

Post a Tribute
Tribute Wall

Support

Shop
Newsroom

Donate Now
How We Help

Our Campaigns

Memorial May
Patriot Day
Veterans Day

Get Started

Find an Event
Make a Donation
Join the Founder’s Brigade

Honor a Hero

Share the story of a fallen hero or service member who has made an impact on your life.

Submit a Tribute

View Tribute Wall
About Us

About Us

Who We Are
Our Mission
Our Team
Contact Us

From the Newsroom

North Texas Mom and Army Veteran Surprised with Free HVAC System

Latest Story

CTL Opens Registration for Veterans Day 100K Meter Challenge

Recent Story

View All News

Featured, In the News

High school volunteers clean headstones in honor of Patriot Day

September 12, 2025

WDTV

By: Tanner Gilmartin

GRAFTON, W.Va (WDTV) – For the 24th year in a row, thousands joined ‘Carry the Load’, a national non-profit veteran and first responder service organization in it’s Patriot Day event. Patriot Day, honors the lives lost in the September 11th Terrorist Attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Volunteers cleaned headstones and beautified grounds at 70 national cemeteries across the country, and it was no different in West Virginia. Over 40 students, 10th through 12th grade from Grafton High School joined to honor fallen service members at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton. One of those students, senior Damien Reseter reflects on the message behind today’s service.

“It’s as much respect that I can show,” said Reseter. “Since they’re not with us anymore, I can’t show them any physical respect, this is as best as I can. “It helps gather us all together.”

Damien and his peers walked through the 1,800 headstones in the upper section of the cemetery with a bucket of soapy water and a brush, and while he put all his effort into each headstone he scrubbed, there was one that may have gotten a little extra care. His Great Grandmother, Freda June, was married to a Navy Veteran is buried in the cemetery along with his uncle who served in the Marines. This displaying the importance of the annual trip to Damien and his other classmates, like Kaige Andrews who even with a different background, echoes a similar message of togetherness.

“It’s a good feeling to see everyone together,” said Andrews. “Everyone comes from different backgrounds, I’m part of the FFA, so we’re agriculture. There is a bunch of kids from the computer side and the business side. “We all put that behind ourselves and put what needs done first.”

Watch the story here.

Support Our Mission

Help us honor and remember the sacrifices made by our military, first responders, and their families.

Featured Events

Memorial May

9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance

Veterans Day

Upcoming Events

Memorial May – Congers, NY

Memorial May – Staten Island, NY

Memorial May – New York City, NY

Memorial May – Wilmington, DE

Memorial May – Kent, WA

One-Time Donation

Monthly Partnership

High school volunteers clean headstones in honor of Patriot Day

WDTV

Recent Articles

North Texas mom and Army veteran surprised with free HVAC system

Carry The Load Opens Registration for Veterans Day 100,000 Meter Challenge Presented by Government Employees Health Association (G.E.H.A)

National Day of Service

Volunteers clean up Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary as part of Patriot Day event

Support Our Mission

Featured Events

Upcoming Events

Get Involved

Honor & Remember

Support

Our Campaigns

Get Started

Honor a Hero

About Us

From the Newsroom

One-Time Donation

Monthly Partnership

High school volunteers clean headstones in honor of Patriot Day

Recent Articles

Support Our Mission