Veterans in El Paso come together for community service

Just beyond the portables at Bowie High School is the lush community garden.

On Saturday, veterans from around Texas, accompanied by city officials, were whacking weeds and plowing dirt, stopping for sips of water under the hot summer sun.

The volunteers are a part of the new Service Platoon of The Mission Continues nonprofit. Joel Carvajal started the group in El Paso.

“The Segundo Barrio is where we need to do the most work,” said Carvajal “They need it they want support from the community.”

Part of the work was planting newly donated vegetation that will cultivate fruits and vegetables.

Alan Terrazas graduated, but wanted to give back to his community.

“Basil, chilies, tabasco, cactus, some pomegranates, figs,”Terrazas said listing off all of the newly-planted items in the community garden.

Crews were also helping to reconstruct the irrigation system. Beautifying Bowie isn’t the only thing on the agenda. More than 205 veterans will take part in the 2018 Summer Service Slam at projects across the state.

In September, the Service Platoon will be carrying out more improvements at Bowie High School.

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