On 9/11 Day of Service, volunteers beautify veterans' headstones at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Carry the Load organized more than 140 volunteers to clean headstones on Patriot Day, in memory of the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as U.S. military veterans.聽
Over 140 volunteers organized by the group Carry the Load work to clean headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, as part of an effort to beautify veterans cemeteries nationwide in remembrance of those who served in the military and those who died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.聽
Brian Wheeler, from St. Louis, uses a brush to remove dirt and buildup on a headstone on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Volunteers organized by the Carry the Load group were encouraged to say the name on each headstone they cleaned, to remember the veterans who are buried at the cemetery.
Miriam Meyer, 12, from Maryland Heights, scrubs the side of a headstone on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The organization Carry the Load hosted the event where volunteers cleaned headstones at 60 national cemeteries across the country.
Carry the Load ambassador Sandy Wirtz, from St. Louis, wears the Special Warfare insignia alongside two hearts in remembrance of her late son Scott Andrew Wirtz who died in combat in 2019, as seen on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 鈥淭hey say you can die two times: once when you lose your life, and the other, when nobody says your name,鈥 Wirtz said. 鈥淚t's touching to see the amount of patriotism, especially to a mom like me." Wirtz's son, Scott Andrew Wirtz, died in 2019 on a mission with SEAL Team 5 in Syria.
Cadet Technical Sergeant of the Civil Air Patrol Samuel Jenkins, 14, from St. Louis, looks out over the cemetery before cleaning headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Carry the Load volunteers participated in a national day of service to remember those who died in the attacks on 9/11 and military veterans.
Marine Corps veteran and cemetery grounds foreman Chad Blissett, left, from De Soto, assists Sharon Hodapp, from St. Louis, in retrieving a bucket of soap and water to clean headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The organization Carry the Load hosted an event that invited volunteers to participate in a national day of service in remembrance of veterans and victims of the attacks on 9/11.
Brian Wheeler, from Wentzville, cleans a row of headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Volunteers organized by the Carry the Load group were encouraged to say the name on each headstone they cleaned, to remember the veterans who are buried at the cemetery.
Brian Wheeler, from St. Louis, uses a brush to remove dirt and buildup on a headstone on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Volunteers used water, dish soap, sponges, and brushes to clean the headstones.
Sharon Hodapp, from St. Louis, cleans a headstone on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The organization Carry the Load hosted an event that invited volunteers to participate in a national day of service in remembrance of veterans and victims of the attacks on 9/11.
Overturned buckets are stacked near the entrance to the cemetery after volunteers finished scrubbing headstones for the day on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Volunteers used water, dish soap, sponges, and brushes to remove dirt and buildup on the headstones.
Clayton Pierce, from St. Louis, stands among gravesites at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery while cleaning headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Over 140 volunteers from the St. Louis region cleaned headstones during the Carry the Load National Day of Service event to remember veterans who served in the US military and the victims of the attacks on 9/11.
US Army veteran Trevor Meyer, left, scrubs headstones alongside his two daughters Miriam Meyer, 12, and Meredith Meyer, 10, all from Maryland Heights, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The organization Carry the Load hosted an event that invited volunteers to participate in a national day of service in remembrance of veterans and victims of the attacks on 9/11.
Rob Soyster, from St. Louis, takes a break underneath a tree before cleaning headstones on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Over 140 volunteers from the St. Louis region cleaned headstones during the Carry the Load National Day of Service event to remember veterans who served in the US military and the victims of the attacks on 9/11.
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