Carry the Load's National Day of Service and Remembrance honors veterans, 9/11 victims

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Volunteers in Springfield honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice as part of Carry the Load's National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The annual Patriot Day event took place Thursday at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, with volunteers cleaning headstones and helping maintain the grounds during the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Almost 70 national cemeteries nationwide participated in the day of service.

Carry the Load said in a press release that Patriot Day honors the lives lost in the attacks, those who died in the line of duty and the first responders who have died from post-9/11-related illnesses.

"Patriot Day is a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice shown by our first responders and military on 9/11 and beyond. By coming together to serve our communities and honor stories of the fallen, we ensure their legacy lives on, and we remind ourselves that freedom is never free," said Stephen Holley, co-founder, president, and CEO of Carry The Load, in a statement.

Additional information on Carry the Load's mission and upcoming events is online.

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