BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - About 27,000 headstones stand at the Biloxi National Cemetery, bearing the names of those who served our country.

Thursday morning, hundreds of volunteers gave back to those buried at the cemetery by cleaning the headstones. This act is part of the Carry the Load initiative’s Patriot Day.

Among the volunteers were members from the Armed Forces Retirement Home, who served alongside some of the people buried.

“It’s an honor to help those who have passed away,” said Claire Dimler-Smith, a retired member of the U.S. Army. “It’s just something I can do for them until I join them.”

Moises Espinal, the founder of the Gulf Coast Veterans Association, wanted to expand this event this year. His organization reached out to middle schools in the area, bringing in students fr

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