South County was abuzz with events in honor of Patriot Day this year.
For the 14th year, Bernard Middle School Student Council held its annual Patriot Day BBQ to show appreciation for first responders and heroes in the community. Students invited police, fire and EMS personnel, members of the military and veterans to enjoy a free BBQ lunch made and served by student council members and sponsors Jacob Siegel and Julie Dorsam.
“It means a lot, because obviously 9/11 was a really tragic event, but this is a good way to reward the people who helped that day,” said Amina Husamovic, student council president and eighth grader at Bernard.
The event is student-driven and has been run by the student council since 2011. This year, roughly 150 emergency personnel attended.
Ten minutes away at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, community members gathered to clean headstones. The event was sponsored by Carry the Load, “a non-profit organization that exists to preserve the sanctity 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.”
Every year on Patriot Day, Carry The Load encourages all Americans to take the day to reflect and honor the country’s military, veterans, first responders and their families by volunteering to clean headstones and beautify Veterans Affairs national cemeteries across the nation.
The event at Jefferson Barracks typically draws about 40 to 50 people, but this year, over 150 were in attendance.
“Every year since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, our great nation has observed a Patriot Day National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor individuals who lost their lives in those attacks. One way we do this is through community service. By volunteering your time, energy and skill here today, you help to keep alive the memory not just of the victims of Sept. 11, but of the countless women and men who served in our armed services, or who served as first respondents before and after that fateful day,” said Darrell Ryan, assistant director at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.