Dignitaries from Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas,

Dignitaries from Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, gathered on the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge for the International Bridge Ceremony Feb. 20, 2016. The ceremony celebrates the bond between the United States and Mexico. The staple of the ceremony, the "abrazo," or embrace, is led by four children representing Mexico and the United States, affectionately know as the "abrazo children." Dignitaries including religious, political, and military officials follow suit by embracing and exchanging flags. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Melisa Washington, 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/Released)