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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 30, 2008) - When Marine Sgt. Aaron
N. Cepeda Sr. lost his life in combat in Iraq on May 7, 2005, his
family also lost a son, husband and father.
In honor of the sacrifice they were not asked to make, but had
to make, Cepeda's children received a Gold Medal of Remembrance at
the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery here during a Memorial Day
ceremony May 26.
The Cepedas were among five families to be honored with the
medal, which is presented to children of fallen servicemembers from
operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The White House
Commission on Remembrance is working to ensure every child in the
country who has lost a parent in service to the country receives
the medal, according to the commission's Web site.
"It's hard for the children to go up there, but it lets them
know that their dad is remembered," said Aaron Sr.'s mother, Diana
Cepeda. "As a mother, it lets me know that my son gave a lot for
this country, but he won't be forgotten."
Wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with their father's face,
Cepeda's children, 8-year-old Aaron Jr. and 4-year-old Journee,
accepted the medals from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
"You should be proud that, beneath the shadow of evil and in the
face of danger, your parents did not run, but they stood up for
what they believed in," Cornyn said, directing his remarks to all
of the families of fallen servicemembers in attendance. "While I
know of no words, no matter how heartfelt, that could ever heal the
hurt, I hope these families will find comfort in the courage and
the honor of their loved ones' service."
The medal presentation was part of a two-hour Memorial Day
ceremony to honor the sacrifices of servicemembers past and
present. Nearly 1,000 people from the military and local
communities braved sweltering heat to attend the ceremony in the
shadow of seemingly endless rows of tombstones, each with a small
American flag set in front.
Although too young to recognize it, the young medal recipients
shared a common bond of sacrifice with the older men and women
standing proudly at attention in uniforms that dated back to World
War II. Many of them had also lost loved ones and were at the
ceremony to honor their memory and pay tribute to those still
serving.
"I lost one of my brothers in Korea; he's buried here," said
Marcos Cordova, representing American Legion Post 579.
"As long as I'm alive, I'll pay respect for my buddies out
there," said Richard Perez, also from the American Legion.
While many veterans and patriotic organizations paid tribute by
taking part in a wreath-presentation ceremony, Miguel Sanchez, from
the American Indian community, honored servicemembers in his own
way. He moved quietly through the crowd, waving smoke from burning
sage onto wreaths to cleanse them for the ceremony.
Following a presentation of service songs and banners, Cornyn
spoke of the memory and sacrifice of all servicemembers, including
his father, who served in World War II.
"It's appropriate to be at Fort Sam Houston this Memorial Day,
because my father is buried here," he said. "I learned from my
father's sacrifice the depth of sacrifice that all of our military
servicemembers and their families make."
As the senator recalled the past, he also reminded the audience
to look to the future.
"I've had the opportunity to visit Iraq and look into the faces
of the next 'Greatest Generation,'" he said. "In their eyes I see
your legacy -- the courage, the strength and honor which has been
handed down to every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine by the
generation that preceded them.
"The truth is, while the uniforms have changed, while the
battlefields have changed over time, and even the nature of the
threat has changed, the strength and courage of America's military
has not."
Cornyn's speech was followed by a presentation of wreaths and
banners by military, veteran and civic organizations, a musical
presentation by the Alamo Metro Chorus, and a performance by the
U.S. Army Medical Command Band.
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail
themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You
program, which highlights home-front groups across the nation that
are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their
families. A listing of these groups and information about their
efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
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