SALISBURY — A special community event has been planned for Sept. 11 at the Salisbury National Cemetery, 202 Government Road, and is being hosted by Carry The Load, a national nonprofit.

The local event, planned to observe Patriot Day, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with volunteers gathering to clean headstones and beautify the grounds. Those wishing to help with this community project on this National Day of Service & Remembrance can go to CarryTheLoad.org to register.

The observance held in Salisbury is one of more than 60 national cemeteries across the nation where volunteers will be gathering. 

Begun in 2011 by veteran U.S. Navy Seals Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley, Carry The Load, as noted in a release, was founded to “restore the true meaning of Memorial Day through community gatherings and storytelling to unite Americans in appreciation for the sacrifices made by a few who carried the load for all.”

The release noted that Patriot Day commemorates the lives of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia and those who perished when the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. That includes sacrifices made by the 343 New York firefighters who died during the 2001 attacks, plus the nearly equal number of New York firefighters, paramedics and civilian support staff who died from post 9/11 illnesses.

“On Patriot Day, we encourage Americans to honor the memory of 9/11 by serving in their communities and sharing stories of the first responders and military who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe,” said Holley, co-founder, president, and CEO of Carry The Load and Veteran U.S. Navy SEAL. “Together we can make a positive impact and show our gratitude for those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

For more information on the nonprofit, go to www.carrytheload.org.