Patriot Day 2025: Honoring Service and Sacrifice on the National Day of Service and Remembrance

Every year on September 11, our nation pauses to reflect on the tragic events of 2001 and the thousands of lives forever changed. Designated as Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, this solemn occasion calls us to honor those we lost and to recognize the courage and sacrifice of Veterans, military families, and first responders.

For the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA), remembrance carries a special meaning. Forty-seven victims of September 11 are buried in VA national cemeteries, alongside more than 16,000 Veterans from the Global War on Terror. Their service, courage, and sacrifice remind us that freedom is never free.

On this Patriot Day, you are invited to join your fellow citizens in honoring their legacy. Whether through volunteer service, a visit to a national cemetery, or by simply taking a moment of silence, each act of remembrance ensures their stories live on.

How You Can Participate

• Find a Cemetery Near You: Learn more about VA national cemeteries and see how you can take part in local observances by visiting this link
• Register for Service Activities: Organizations like Carry the Load host opportunities nationwide. Sign up to serve on September 11 by registering here
• Plan Ahead: Veterans and their families can apply for Pre-Need Eligibility
  to ensure burial in a VA national cemetery. Taking this step today eases the burden on loved ones tomorrow.
• Explore Memorial Benefits: Visit NCA’s Plan Today, Honor Forever
  website to learn more about burial and memorial benefits available to Veterans and their families.

A Call to Honor

Patriot Day is more than a memorial—it is a reminder to live with gratitude and service. On September 11, 2025, let us come together as a nation to honor the fallen, support those who serve, and ensure that the memory of their sacrifice endures for generations to come.