MONTEVALLO, Ala. (WIAT) -- Volunteers with buckets and brushes in hand cleaned headstones at the Alabama National Cemetery on Thursday morning.

The Carry the Load's 7th annual Patriot Day event honored the lives lost on September 11, 2001, by connecting volunteers with the sacrifice made by those who have served in the U.S. Military.

About 100 volunteers came out to help clean the headstones in sections 9 and 8 of the cemetery, which is located in Montevallo.

U.S. Air Force veteran Christina Lariccia drove in from Montgomery to volunteer for the event.

“Twenty-four years ago, 2,977 people lost their lives, and this is our way of giving back and remembering those people,” Lariccia said.

She added that she believes in paying it forward. She also explained that when she steps up to a gra

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