Home at Last After 73 Years
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Oct 7, 2023, 0 Comments
Courtesy Noraida Negron,
Laredo, Texas – It is with respect and honor that the City of Laredo will welcome POW/MIA Sergeant Cresenciano Garcia home at last after 73 years. According to the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Army Sgt. Cresenciano Garcia, Jr., 22, of Laredo, Texas, died in the Korean War and was accounted for on April 25, 2023. He was reported missing in action on December 1, 1950. On December 9, 2019, DPAA personnel exhumed unknown remains for further testing and analysis that determined to be Garcia.
Sgt. Cresenciano’s family was notified and the process began for his remains to be transported to Laredo next week, arrangements have been scheduled for a funeral with honors.
Tuesday, October 10 – Arrival for Dignified Transfer at McAllen Miller International Airport @12:08 p.m. (Closed to the public)
The family is inviting the community to participate in a warm ‘welcome home’ procession by parking in areas alongside the route (see map for details). The City is encouraging the community and business owners to show their respects by waving American flags during the procession.
The time of the procession is estimated to be around 4:00 p.m. A dignified transfer is the process by which the remains of a fallen military member are transferred from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle that will proceed to the funeral home.
The dignified transfer is not a ceremony, rather it is a solemn movement of transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member’s service. Once this service concludes, Sgt. Cresenciano Garcia will be transported from McAllen to Laredo to the Joe Jackson North funeral home, located at 1410 Jacaman Rd.
Saturday, October 14 – Full Military Honors (Public invited to line up around the procession route to pay their respects)
Military honors will take place on this date, including a religious ceremony at St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 10:00 a.m.
The mass will be proceeded by a procession to the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
The family is inviting the public to park along the route (see map for details) to pay their respects during this final procession.
The public may also find additional details here: https://www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/sgt-cresenciano-garcia-jr
