EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 The El Paso community gathered at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on Monday to mark Memorial Day and pay tribute to fallen service members.<\/p>\n
The ceremony honored those who have died while serving the country. <\/p>\n
The program included an invocation and benediction by CH (COL) Timothy G. Cross, Fort Bliss senior chaplain, along with the national anthem and a musical selection performed by the 1st Armored Division Band. A 21-gun national salute was also part of the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Remarks were made by Francisco Gonzalez, director of Fort Bliss National Cemetery, and Brig. Gen. Jared D. Bordwell, deputy commanding officer-support for the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.<\/p>\n
Speaking to KFOX14\/CBS4 on Monday, Gonzalez said the day not only honors service members, but also aims to help the community remember the sacrifices of those who serve. <\/p>\n
“Memorial Day is a time where we can all get together as a community and pay our thanks and our gratitude to the seven members for their sacrifice. Our goal is that we don’t forget, that our community doesn’t forget, that our children don’t forget,” Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n
The ceremony also featured a wreath presentation led by Bordwell and Gonzalez, joined by Lillian Crouch, president of Gold Star Wives, and multiple community and veterans organizations, including the El Paso Veterans Honor Unit, El Paso Veterans Color Guard, United American Veteran Organization, Grey Wolf Warrior Society, American Legion Post 58, American Legion Post 832, American Legion Post 74, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, County of El Paso, Military Veterans\u2019 Museum of the Southwest, DAV Chapter 10, VFW Post 812, National Veterans Outreach Program, Henry O. Flipper Chapter of NAAGA, and the Korean American Association of El Paso. <\/p>\n
According to Gonzalez, the purpose of the ceremony is to “honor those veterans with a flag,” adding that before the ceremony, volunteers placed 250 American flags at the gravesites throughout Fort Bliss National Cemetery <\/p>\n
KFOX14\/CBS4 photojournalist Rudy Reyes gave us a look at the day\u2019s event. <\/p>\n
WATCH:<\/p>\n
El Paso honors fallen service members at Fort Bliss National Cemetery ceremony (Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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