Task Force Warhawg Supports Celebration of Lights Parade

By Linda Stewart, 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment

EL PASO, Texas - The 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, and the Child Crisis Center of El Paso partnered for the 77th annual "Celebration of Lights" parade that brought thousands of spectators to the city's downtown streets earlier this month.

The Child Crisis Center of El Paso participates in the parade every year to bring joy and happiness to the children residing at the center. This year's theme was a train, and the children from the center rode in the caboose.

Task Force Warhawg supported the Crisis Center's float not only to celebrate their partnership and the holiday season, but to pay tribute to the Center's contributions to the city of El Paso and to help raise awareness within the community.

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, complete the final preparations for the Child Crisis Center of El Paso float just before the 77th annual Celebration of Lights parade in downtown El Paso, Texas. Photo: Linda Stewart, 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West

Martha Hernandez, Crisis Center administration and facilities manager, and Sallie House, Crisis Center outreach coordinator, drafted the float design and coordinated its decoration.

Sgt. 1st Class Reese Slavich, Task Force Warhawg Operations noncommissioned officer, his wife, Holly Slavich, and Sgt. 1st Class Richard Curviel contributed to the labor in building the float.

Beginning in mid-November, Sgt. 1st Class Slavich dedicated more than 150 hours to assessing float requirements, resourcing and purchasing materials, transporting materials to the construction site and constructing the float.

Capt. Josepher Pacquing, left, and Sgt. 1st Class Oscar Romero, both with 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, carry the sign introducing the Child Crisis Center of El Paso float in the 77th annual Celebration of Lights parade in downtown El Paso, Texas. Photo: Linda Stewart, 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West

Holly Slavich acted as the creative architect who drove her husband's efforts, and Curviel helped with the construction of the standing walls on the caboose, the most critical part of the structure.