WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will host more than 60 National Day of Service and Remembrance events, Sept. 11, at VA national cemeteries across 34 states and Puerto Rico. These events are open to all and will honor the Veterans, service members, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders who served and sacrificed for the nation, Sept. 11, 2001, and in the years since.
For the sixth consecutive year, VA’s National Cemetery Administration is partnering with Carry the Load to host these volunteer service events, along with AmeriCorps. At these events, volunteers will clean headstones and participate in other beautification activities at VA national cemeteries.
“We encourage everyone to join us at one of this year’s September 11 National Day of Service events to honor the nation’s heroes who served and sacrificed 23 years ago,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters. “Our acts of volunteer service at cemeteries across the country tell these heroes that we have not forgotten their bravery and all they sacrificed for the country.”
In addition to activities at VA national cemeteries, this year’s event will also include Erie Cemetery in Erie, Pennsylvania, to honor the more than 7,000 Veterans interred there, including notable American Citizens and Veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. This effort is part of NCA’s Restoration Initiative for Veteran gravesites in historical private cemeteries.
To learn more and view event details for participating cemeteries, visit NCA National Day of Service. Individuals and groups can register to participate at Carry The Load National Day of Service. Cleaning supplies and other materials will be provided and there is no cost to participate. VA also invites family, friends, and loved ones to post photos and tributes on a Veteran’s page on the Veterans Legacy Memorial website, which includes memorial pages for nearly ten million Veterans.
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For information about VA burial benefits and memorial items, visit one of VA’s national cemetery locations in-person, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. To plan ahead for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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