BAMBERG, Germany — One year after Cpl. Marcos Nolasco was accidentally electrocuted in Iraq, members of his unit, family members and his son’s former teachers planted a tree in his honor.

More than 50 people from the 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery and Bamberg Elementary School attended Wednesday’s ceremony.

Pupils from the elementary school sang songs and recited poetry to honor Nolasco, whose son, Angel, now 10, was described as a very smart and energetic kid.

While the purpose of the ceremony was to officially dedicate the tree in Nolasco’s honor — his former unit will provide a plaque — it also was a chance for teachers to remember Angel, who moved with his mother to Okinawa after his father’s death.

The teachers and community members raised more than $2,000 for a college fund for Angel. A letter written by Angel was read at the ceremony.

“I want to thank you for taking care of me,” he wrote. “I think that $2,000 will be a big help at college.”

Even before his father died, Karen Peterson, a Bamberg Elementary School teacher who planned the event, took Angel under her wing.

He spoke Japanese as a first language and very little English, but Peterson still helped him get into a Spanish immersion class to better learn his father’s primary language.

She said she developed a close bond with him.

“I have this large chair in my classroom, and Angel always loved to just bounce away on it,” she said.

“I’ve been teaching for 26 years, and I’ve met so many students. Angel is a smart kid. He must go to college.”

While the college fund should be helpful when Angel graduates high school, Peterson will be sending him videotaped messages from his friends and Nolasco’s fellow soldiers that could be of even more value to him.

“It’s so unfortunate that Angel will grow up without his father,” said Capt. Brian Tierney, Battery B commander, to dozens of soldiers attending who knew Nolasco and served with him in Iraq.

“But he won’t grow up not knowing his father, you guys will help make sure of that.”

After the ceremony, former classmates of Angel’s and friends of Nolasco’s got the chance to record a message on the tapes to share their memories of Angel and his father.

“What [the teachers] have done for Angel — I’m speechless,” said Spc. Ruben Villalpando, Nolasco’s cousin who was deployed to Iraq at the same time as Nolasco, and is now stationed in Schweinfurt.

“It shows the support they give to soldiers that have passed away and helps the family cope with something that is so hard.

“Knowing that they are still helping to take care of Angel makes me feel so much at ease.”