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It is with
great joy and deep sadness that
we celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Month this year. We rejoice in
Angela Salinas becoming the
first Latina ever to attain the
rank of General in the U.S.
Marine Corps. She is also the
first woman ever to assume
command of a Marine base. Her
career is a testament to the
spirit of a Latina who would not
be deterred by any obstacles in
her path.
Sadly, while we celebrate
Brigadier General Salinas’
accomplishments, we mourn the
loss of another incredible
Latina, Lt. Emily J. T. Perez.
Emily tragically lost her life
when a roadside bomb destroyed
her vehicle while on patrol in
southern Iraq. Emily was an
exceptional young woman and in
her short twenty-three years of
life she touched everyone she
met. She is the first West Point
graduate female to lose her life
in Iraq, and the highest ranking
black and Hispanic woman cadet
in the school’s history. When a
young life so full of promise is
lost we find it hard, if not
impossible, to make sense of
such tragedy. Emily joins an
increasing number of young
Latinos that have given their
lives for our country in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Serving in the
Army’s Medical Corps, Emily was
no stranger to pain and
suffering, and her demeanor and
personality brought a great deal
of comfort to those she helped.
In her we have lost an inspiring
and charismatic leader. The
testimony of her classmates and
instructors at West Point reveal
a young woman of great integrity,
intelligence and commitment. Her
flame, like those of all our
young men and women that have
been lost in this war, is by no
means extinguished. It will
continue to burn brightly in our
hearts and souls. To Emily’s
parents, Daniel and Vicki Perez,
all we can say is thank you for
bringing up such a beautiful and
generous spirit. Emily will be
missed but she will not be
forgotten.
Robert E. Bard |
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Second Lt. Emily J. T.
Perez |
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