[/av_textblock] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] August 9, 2011
[/av_textblock] [av_video src=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV7XVN9jrYI’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′ custom_class=”] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] Pigeon Forge, TN, Aug. 9, 2011 — Today, the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (www.eagles.org) released three captive-hatched Bald Eaglets into the wild.
One eaglet was named ‘Halo’ in honor of Sgt. First Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva who was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on March 22, 2010.
“We are always happy to honor our soldiers and veterans who so bravely and unselfishly defend our nation’s precious freedoms and the rights of others,” said AEF founder/president Al Louis Cecere.
Carlos had resided in Clarksville, Tennessee, and served in the U.S. Army, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He died in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attached his vehicle with a makeshift bomb.
Mr. Francisco Santos-Silva and Ms. Monica Santos-Silva of Knoxville were present for the release of the eaglet, which they named Halo in honor of their son.
The eaglet was produced by a non-releasable bald eagle breeding pair named ‘Independence’ & ‘Franklin’ during Spring 2011 at the AEF’s United States Eagle Center at Dollywood.
The breeding pair produced two other eaglets during 2011 that were also released today, which were named ‘Endeavor’ and ‘Atlantis’ by an AEF member and AEF Eagle Cam viewer.
A special tribute ceremony preceded the release of the birds, which included a prayer given by AEF president Al Cecere, a song performed by entertainer/songwriter James Rogers, and a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace performed by Katy Helms. There were a number of other guests present for the release.
The AEF is a non-profit conservation group that annually releases captive-hatched Bald Eaglets in East Tennessee to help repopulate the USA’s National Bird.
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For more information contact:
Al Cecere, Founder & President
American Eagle Foundation
P.O. Box 333
Pigeon Forge, TN 37738
Email Al Cecere
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