Dozens of volunteers gathered at Sarasota National Cemetery on Saturday morning for Carry The Load’s 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, working in partnership with GEHA and the National Cemetery Administration. Their task was simple and meaningful: clean headstones, restore markers, and beautify the resting grounds where local veterans and first responders are laid to rest.
The effort was part of a much larger national movement. More than 140 cemeteries across the country participated in the same day of service. Here at home, the late-summer heat took its toll. Organizer Tony Brighter said about 60 volunteers started the morning, and the crowd thinned as temperatures climbed, but a dedicated group stayed through the morning to finish the work.
For local volunteer Susan Snyder, the day carried extra weight. Her father is buried at Sarasota National Cemetery, so every headstone she cleaned felt personal. Organizers say that’s the heart of the initiative: when we say their names, they’re not forgotten. Whether you have a connection to the cemetery or not, the work done Saturday stands as a reminder of what service looks like long after the uniforms come off.
Do you have a loved one buried at Sarasota National Cemetery? We’d be honored to hear their story.
