EL PASO, Texas -- A special memorial service Thursday at Bowie High School to honor one of their own killed in the Fort Hood massacre.

For the first time in years, the senior class had its "Lighting of the B" to honor Major Eduardo Caraveo. He was one of 13 people killed at Fort Hood and a 1975 graduate of Bowie High School. Caraveo grew up in El Paso, going on to receive a bachelor's and master's degree from The University of Texas at El Paso.

He joined the army reserves 10 years ago. When the shooting happened, he was preparing for his second deployment, and stopped at Fort Hood for final clearance to head overseas to Afghanistan.

Thursday, the stadium at Bowie High School was packed with those paying their respects to a fellow Bear.

KFOX spoke with senior class president, Leslie Gonzalez, who said Caraveo's death hit hard at the school, and the lighting ceremony was a symbolic tribute.

"I think it's a nice symbol of our unity and how our souls, even though we just had a tragic death in our Bowie family, we still have that hope, and we still cherish the moments that we have here at Bowie," she said. "So the lighting of the 'B' represents that light in our souls."

Major Caraveo leaves behind a wife, sons, and stepdaughters. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.