Pikes Peak National Cemetery

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago, our nation was forever changed.

For some, September 11, 2001, remains vivid: the images, the uncertainty, the people we were with, and the feeling that the world had changed.

For others, 9/11 is now history. An event that happened before they were born.

Perhaps that is why remembrance matters.

Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day. We remember the first responders who moved toward danger. We remember the families whose lives were forever divided into before and after.

And here at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, we remember the generation that answered what came next. Men and women who raised their hands to serve, deployed far from home, returned carrying experiences few of us will ever fully know, and, for some, never returned at all.

Twenty-five years have changed our country and changed us. But the passage of time does not diminish the value of a life, the weight of sacrifice, or our responsibility to remember.

Today, among the headstones and quiet spaces of this national cemetery, we pause.

We remember where we were.
We remember those who were lost.
We remember those who served.
And 25 years later, we still remember.

09/10/2026

Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, Americans are coming together to remember, honor, and serve. On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Veterans, families, friends, and community members are invited to take part in a National Day of Service at VA national and state Veteran cemeteries across the country. Volunteers will help clean headstones and take part in beautification projects to care for these sacred spaces and honor those we lost on September 11th, along with the Veterans who answered our nation's call in the years that followed. You don't need to be a Veteran or have special experience to participate—just a willingness to serve. Watch the SITREP to learn why this commemoration matters, then find a participating cemetery near you and register to take part.

Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, Americans are c...

09/09/2026

You Asked. We Listened.

Placing flowers at the gravesite of a loved one is an important part of remembering and staying connected. We’ve also heard from families that replacing fresh flowers regularly during our growing season can become difficult and costly.

We’re pleased to share a change that offers families more flexibility:

Artificial flowers are now permitted year-round at Pikes Peak National Cemetery.

Previously, artificial flowers were generally limited to the months outside our growing season. This change gives families another option for honoring their loved ones throughout the year with floral tributes that can last longer and be reused.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: from March 15 through Thanksgiving, all floral tributes, fresh or artificial, will continue to be removed every Wednesday so our caretakers can continue to safely mow, trim, and care for the grounds.

Families who live nearby may choose to pick up artificial flowers before Wednesday’s removal and place them back at the gravesite after grounds maintenance is completed. Visitors may also wish to place new floral tributes after the Wednesday pickup so they can remain for as much of the week as possible.

We’re grateful for the families who share their experiences and perspectives with us. This is a small change, but one we hope provides greater flexibility while allowing us to continue maintaining these sacred grounds with the dignity and care our Veterans and their families deserve.

09/08/2026

From a Day of Rest to a Day of Service

After the Labor Day weekend, a time for many of us to pause, gather, and enjoy the unofficial close of summer, we turn our attention toward THIS SATURDAY: a day of remembrance through service.

Join us at Pikes Peak National Cemetery for Carry The Load’s National Day of Service & Remembrance.

Together, we will remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, while honoring all those who have answered the call to serve our country.

The morning will begin with a brief ceremony, followed by an opportunity to put remembrance into action as volunteers clean and beautify Veterans’ headstones throughout the cemetery.

Bring your family, coworkers, youth or community group…. or simply bring yourself.

Remember. Serve. Honor. Carry the Load.

Register to volunteer:
https://carrytheload.org/patriot-day/

09/07/2026

In observance of Labor Day, Pikes Peak National Cemetery administrative offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026.

A small team of dedicated staff members will remain on-site to facilitate scheduled interments and ensure the continued honor and care of our Veterans and their families. As always, the cemetery will remain open from sunrise to sunset for visitation and reflection.

Labor Day honors the contributions of America’s workers and the generations of men and women whose skill, dedication, and service have helped build and strengthen our Nation. At our national cemeteries, we are especially grateful for those whose daily work helps fulfill our mission of honoring Veterans and their families with dignity and respect.

We appreciate your understanding as we observe this federal holiday. Regular administrative office hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

09/04/2026

Preserving history, one headstone at a time.

This week our caretakers were at Fort Lyon National Cemetery replacing a number of historic headstones due to their condition. Replacing a historic marker involves more than simply ordering a new stone.

NCA historians research the burial records and the period in which the original marker was placed, working to ensure that a replacement is historically appropriate and reflects as closely as possible what would have marked the grave at the time.

One of the stones replaced carries a particularly important connection to Fort Lyon’s history: the grave of Youayoshi Hoshi, a Japanese-American Navy warrant officer and Spanish-American War Veteran. Records identify Hoshi as the first Veteran interred at Fort Lyon, when burials began here in 1907 as the cemetery for the U.S. Naval Hospital at Fort Lyon.

09/03/2026

Twenty-five years ago, the September 11th attacks changed our country forever. It also changed the life Mr. Sam Brown, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Saturday, September 12th, we're invited to come together in remembrance and service. VA national cemeteries, including Pikes Peak National Cemetery, will host beautification events starting at 10:00 a.m. local time, giving volunteers the chance to clean headstones and honor the legacies of the victims, first responders, service members, and families forever touched by that day.

It's a small way to give back and make sure we never forget.
- Find a participating cemetery near you and sign up to volunteer.
- More Info on our event: https://www.facebook.com/events/919719307799663
- Register to volunteer: https://carrytheload.org/patriot-day/

Twenty-five years ago, the September 11th attacks shocked our count...

09/01/2026

As we turn the calendar to September, our thoughts begin to turn toward a day that changed our nation 25 years ago and toward the lives, service, and sacrifice that followed.

On Saturday, September 12, Pikes Peak National Cemetery will join Carry The Load’s National Day of Service & Remembrance, giving our community an opportunity to turn remembrance into action.

Join us as we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and all those who have answered the call to serve our country.

September reminds us to remember. September 12 gives us an opportunity to serve.

Remember. Serve. Honor. Carry the Load.

More Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/919719307799663
Register to volunteer:
https://carrytheload.org/patriot-day/

08/31/2026

A little concrete dust and disruption along the way, but the sidewalk repairs and safety improvements have been completed in several areas throughout our grounds, including around the Funeral Procession Staging Area, at the south entrance to the Public Information Center, and in the Columbarium courtyard.

The work addressed settled and uneven concrete, helping provide safer and more accessible walkways for our visitors.

Thank you for your patience while the work was underway and to the crews who helped make these improvements possible.

It’s another part of the ongoing work of caring for these grounds and ensuring Pikes Peak National Cemetery remains a safe, dignified, and welcoming place for all who come here to honor and remember.

08/28/2026

The U.S. flag at Pikes Peak National Cemetery is lowered to half-staff whenever a Veteran’s committal service is being conducted.

This weekend and until sunset on September 1, 2026., per Presidential Proclamation, the flag remains at half-staff in honor of Dolly Parton, a beloved American whose life of music, generosity, and service touched generations.

Dolly always held Veterans and military families close to her heart. Her connection was also deeply personal. Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, served in the U.S. Army.

Throughout her life, Dolly used her remarkable success to give back, supporting our troops and military families while building an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy, compassion, and care for others.

Her life is a reminder that service takes many forms, and that a life well lived is often measured by what we give to others.

Today, beneath a flag at half-staff, we remember Dolly Parton with gratitude.