National Cemetery Administration

What:
Carry The Load organizes volunteer events at national cemeteries to provide Americans with active ways to honor those who have served our country. The event includes a brief ceremony and instructions to volunteers on headstone cleaning and beautification. This is a great service opportunity for employee engagement, youth groups, and individuals.

When & Where:
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, events at over 90 cemeteries will take place across our nation at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at participating national and VA grant-funded cemeteries except Quantico and Alexandria in Virginia and Baltimore in Maryland, which will start at 9:00 a.m. (local time). Volunteers may arrive 30 minutes prior to start times to prepare for activities.

Post:
Write a tribute or post a photo on VA's Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM).

Register:
Find a participating cemetery and register at Carry The Load - Patriot Day - National Day of Service.

Alabama
Alabama National Cemetery
Fort McClellan Post Cemetery
Fort Mitchell National Cemetery
Mobile National Cemetery

Alaska
Fort Richardson National Cemetery

Arizona
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
Prescott National Cemetery

Arkansas
Fayetteville National Cemetery
Fort Smith National Cemetery
Little Rock National Cemetery

California
Miramar National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery
Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery

Colorado
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Pikes Peak National Cemetery

Florida
Barrancas National Cemetery
Bay Pines National Cemetery
Cape Canaveral National Cemetery
Florida National Cemetery
Jacksonville National Cemetery
Sarasota National Cemetery
South Florida National Cemetery
St. Augustine National Cemetery
Tallahassee National Cemetery

Georgia
Georgia National Cemetery
Marietta National Cemetery

Hawaii
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Idaho
Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at Boise¹

Illinois
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
Camp Butler National Cemetery
Danville National Cemetery

Indiana
Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery¹
New Albany National Cemetery

Kansas
Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Dodge¹
Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley / Manhattan¹
Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney¹
Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Winfield¹
Leavenworth National Cemetery

Kentucky
Camp Nelson National Cemetery
Cave Hill National Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery Soldiers' Lot
Lebanon National Cemetery
Lexington National Cemetery
Mill Springs National Cemetery
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

Louisiana
Port Hudson National Cemetery

Maryland
Annapolis National Cemetery
Baltimore National Cemetery (9:00 a.m.)

Massachusetts
Massachusetts National Cemetery

Michigan
Fort Custer National Cemetery
Great Lakes National Cemetery

Minnesota
Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Mississippi
Biloxi National Cemetery
Corinth National Cemetery
Natchez National Cemetery

Missouri
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Montana
Yellowstone National Cemetery

Nebraska
Omaha National Cemetery

New York
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery

North Carolina
Salisbury National Cemetery

North Dakota
Fargo National Cemetery

Ohio
Dayton National Cemetery
Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery

Oklahoma
Fort Gibson National Cemetery
Fort Sill National Cemetery

Oregon
Eagle Point National Cemetery
Willamette National Cemetery

Pennsylvania
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
Philadelphia National Cemetery
Prospect Hill Cemetery²

Puerto Rico
Morovis National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery

South Carolina
Beaufort National Cemetery
Florence National Cemetery
Fort Jackson National Cemetery

Tennessee
Chattanooga National Cemetery
Knoxville National Cemetery
Memphis National Cemetery
Mountain Home National Cemetery
Nashville National Cemetery

Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Houston National Cemetery
Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission¹

Utah
Fort Douglas Post Cemetery

Virginia
Alexandria National Cemetery (9:00 a.m.)
National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico (9:00 a.m.)
Richmond National Cemetery

Washington
Fort Lawton Post Cemetery
Tahoma National Cemetery

Wisconsin
Northwoods National Cemetery
Wood National Cemetery

Wyoming
Cheyenne National Cemetery