Final roll call ceremony honors local Veterans

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Cadets from Southwest High School honored local fallen Veterans in an emotional final roll call ceremony.

Every year, Memorial Day is celebrated, and as the years pass, the fallen heroes continue to be missed.

Southwest High School had a final roll call for local Veterans no longer with us.  

Emotions ran high as the families of these falling heroes sat in the front row.

10 local Veterans including two Vietnam Veterans were honored at Southwest High School. 

During the ceremony, pictures of local Veterans were on an altar and their names were read for a final roll call. 

A father whose son graduated from Southwest High School in 2001 and died at only 34 years old in Afghanistan in 2017 said it was very emotional to come back to the school his son once walked through. 

“He swam for Southwest High School. He wrestled for Southwest High School. He danced for Southwest High School. He was in the orchestra for Southwest High School. He is an Eagle Scout and he was an amazing person," shared David Boniface, father of a fallen Veteran.

The principal and current Army National Guard soldier said this is the first time the school holds a ceremony to remember local fallen heroes.

A cadet from Southwest High School said this event was important for her.

"It's very emotional for sure because seeing like all the emotions going around, everybody's sad and remembering the fallen, so it means a lot," shared Denice Mora, Southwest High School cadet.