ALA members can participate in headstone cleaning and beautification


By Hannah Amos 

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of 9/11. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA) reached out to the American Legion Auxiliary, asking for ALA members from across the country to participate in a special day of service on Sept. 12. 

The NCA has partnered with the nonprofit Carry The Load to organize a national cemetery cleanup volunteer event to honor and pay respects to the lives lost on that solemn day.

Across the country on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. local time, national cemeteries will have volunteers cleaning headstones and beautifying the sites for the National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

Auxiliary members can register as an individual or as a unit/group. When you select your state, a list of participating cemeteries will appear that you can select from.

Either way you choose to register, members are encouraged to list the ALA as their organization/company.

Cleaning materials and instructions will be provided to volunteers at each event.

For a full list of participating cemeteries, go here. To register, click here. 

To report your volunteer hours, ALA members have the option to list them under either Community Service or Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation. 

Are you already signed up or planning to? Email us at PR@ALAforVeterans.org and your experience could be featured in ALA national media. 

More information on A National Day of Service and Remembrance can be found on the NCA's website. 

Cleaning headstones isn’t the only way to participate in this day of remembrance. If you want to help in a different way, email contact@carrytheload.org