Girl Scouts, Scouting America place US flags at Fort Bliss Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day

Many El Paso youth groups, including Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, and Girl Scout troops, placed American flags at the grave markers at Fort Bliss Cemetery on Saturday, May 25.

The volunteer effort was on Saturday, May 25, and is always on the Saturday before Memorial Day to honor the deceased buried at the cemetery.

Fort Bliss Cemetery will have a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27. Memorial Day honors all men and women who have died in military service for the United States.

Nathaniel Jones, council commissioner for the Yucca Council, led a ceremony before the flag placement that included the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the national anthem. Jones has been leading the flag placement service for about 20 years.

A nice breeze kept the scouts, some as young as 5, cool on a traditionally sunny day while they walked the 80 acres of the cemetery and placed the flags.

Other volunteer groups that participated include the El Paso Young Marines, veterans organizations, high school and church groups, a military fraternity and the American Red Cross.

Many scout leaders enjoyed leading their troops, placing metal flag holders and flags on each grave, reading the name of the deceased, and saluting. The service project usually takes a couple of hours, with volunteers moving from section to section.

By 10:30 a.m., the cemetery looked stately, with hundreds of flags waving as if greeting visitors.

More than 48,000 military and family members are buried at the cemetery.

More: Memorial Day 2024: What's closed, open, how to mark holiday

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Scout troops place flags at Fort Bliss Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day