SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – It might be one of the easiest — and most important — ways you can volunteer some of your time.

Camp Butler National Cemetery Saturday hosted a local site of “Carry the Load” — an initiative to honor the September 11 “National Day of Service and Remembrance.”

Volunteers helped clean the headstones Saturday of many of the veterans buried at the cemetery.

Volunteers at Camp Butler National Cemetery Saturday, September 12 signed a 'Patriot Day' banner provided by Carry the Load.
Volunteers at Camp Butler National Cemetery Saturday, September 12 signed a ‘Patriot Day’ banner provided by Carry the Load.

“We’re here today to basically beautify, clean headstones, but to remember the veterans and the families who are buried here, and to have those moments of quiet while they’re doing that, to remember what happened on 9/11, and how our country, our communities, all came together for one purpose,” said Christopher Webster, Director, Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Webster says that sense of service and help seems to happen daily at the cemetery.

“At Camp Butler, we have a saying:  ‘Every day is Memorial Day here,'” said Webster.

Webster says if he’s being honest, he could ask for volunteers any time of year and they’d show up.

“We have a beautiful community here in Springfield who support Camp Butler — the surrounding counties, and surrounding cities,” said Webster, who has been director of the cemetery the last three years.  “I feel very lucky to be the steward of this, and I feel very privileged to be part of a legacy that started with President Abraham Lincoln.”

The cemetery’s next burial service for unclaimed, unaccompanied veterans is October 7th.  Volunteers and the general public are invited and encouraged to attend.  You can also call (217) 492-4070 to learn about the services or to take part in other volunteer opportunities.