Knoxville invited to ‘Carry the Load’ to honor Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Carry the Load, a national non-profit veteran and first responder service organization, invited Knoxville to take part in volunteer opportunities on Patriot Day, Sept. 11.

In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs and National Cemetery Administration, volunteers helped honor fallen service members by cleaning headstones and beautifying the grounds of nearly 70 cemeteries across the country.

Volunteers gathered at the Knoxville National Cemetery Thursday morning to pay their respects to fallen service members.

“The armed forces and first responders that are still serving this country today, these are our nation’s heroes, and we’re keeping these headstones pristine like they should be,” said Administrative Officer for the Mountain Home in Knoxville National Cemeteries Brian Peterson. “This is a national shrine, and their takeaway from this is they’re honoring those that are buried here because they sacrificed so much for this country.”

Patriot Day honors the lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and aboard United Airlines Flight 93. It also recognizes the sacrifices made by hundreds of first responders who died during the attacks.

“This is my first time here, but every time I clean it, I just think, what they did for us, this is the least we can do for them. Just clean it off and help them,” said volunteer Tennessee Ellis.

Since 2019, volunteers have contributed their time and effort to Carry the Load’s Patriot Day events. The day of service offers a way for people to honor the lives lost during the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

“Sept. 11 and the devastating aftereffects defined my generation’s military service,” said Carry the Load Ambassador and Army veteran Danielle Applegate. “Volunteering on Patriot Day with my family, friends, colleagues, and partners from the Department of Veterans Affairs each year ensures we remember the lives lost and continue to stoke the spirit of unity and sacrifice among all Americans.”

For more information, visit Carry the Load’s website.