Bliss cemetery gets makeover to prepare for Memorial Day

Memorial Day isn’t about barbecues or going to the mall.

It’s about honoring the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice — the nation’s heroes.

“We love to have people come out here and visit our shrine,” said Jamie Porter, the director of the cemetery, which is off Fred Wilson Road.

“There is no better time than Memorial Day, when we are here paying tribute to veterans and those who have sacrificed so much — veterans and their families — for this country,” Porter said.

This quiet place hosted more than 500 people Monday. They were here to pay homage and remember the sacrifices of brave service members going back to the 1890s.

Crews were busy in the days leading up to the ceremony, preparing for the biggest event of the year at the cemetery.

To showcase the cemetery, it has gotten new plants with more vibrant colors, more flagpoles and other upgrades.

“We are doing everything we can do to make Memorial Day a memorable day for all our visitors, veterans, families and their guests,” Porter said.

It all adds up to creating a fitting tribute to fallen service members.

“On Veterans Day, we honor veterans,” he said. “On Memorial Day, we honor those who have sacrificed everything to allow us to still be free and the sacrifice they have made for our country.”

As for the future, the cemetery is planning to expand in the next few years. It will add new land from Fort Bliss and conduct burials for another 40 years.