Today, JROTC Cadet and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Peter Wang will be laid to rest. While it isn’t the military funeral that a petition tried to give him, the young hero is being honored, along with two other JROTC students, by the United States Army.
The Army is awarding medals for heroism to three Junior ROTC cadets who were killed in the Florida school shooting https://t.co/zWjweccO6v pic.twitter.com/JHsfz1Ru4o
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 20, 2018
Alaina Petty, Peter Wang and Martin Duque, all students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, were also cadets in the school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and will receive the Medal of Heroism for their actions in last Wednesday’s shooting.
Petty’s family was presented with her medal at her funeral service Monday, and Wang’s family was due to receive his medal at his service Tuesday morning, where Wang was to be buried in his JROTC uniform, according to Army spokesman Michael Maddox.
“The JROTC Heroism medal will be on his uniform, but a second ‘keepsake’ medal,” will be given to the Wang family, Maddox said.
Duque’s family will be presented with his medal during a service on Saturday.
According to the Army, the Medal of Heroism is awarded to a JROTC cadet “who performs an act of heroism.”
“The achievement must be an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding that it clearly sets the individual apart from fellow students or from other persons in similar circumstances,” according to the criteria laid out by the Army. “The performance must have involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy fortitude and courage.”
Petty and Duque were both 14 years old. Wang was 15 years old.
And the Wang family is also receiving another tribute to Peter’s courage.
West Point will provide the family of Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting victim Peter Wang a letter of acceptance to West Point Class of 2025, which was his dream, and honorarium tokens. His funeral is today. pic.twitter.com/kOb9P5mjdd
— Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) February 20, 2018
There couldn’t have been a kinder or more well-timed honor by West Point.
Bless this family. Well done U.S. Military Academy!
— T.D. (@OscarsPop) February 20, 2018
This made me cry. What a beautiful gesture.
— Jen Lombardo (@jennylom10) February 20, 2018
Well Done @WestPoint_USMA , well done!
— Nina Espina (@espinaDuran) February 20, 2018
I don't cry often. This young man died in uniform as a hero. And will always be one of my fallen brothers. #ToujoursPret
— LiberalVeteran #VetsResistSquadron (@LaLiberalVetera) February 20, 2018
Tears, again. With chills and gratefulness.
Thank you @WestPoint_USMA.
May the memory and names of each of these children and heroes be a blessing, forever.— andreabakes (@andreabakes) February 20, 2018
The Army is also indicating that more honors may be given to those JROTC students who survived.
But right now, the focus is understandably on honoring those students who died.
May the memories of Alaina Petty, Martin Duque, and Peter Wang be a blessing to their families.
And will always be one of my fallen brothers.
Concur with this, wholeheartedly.
As to the other two, do we know their stories?
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