Memorial Day Weekend 2014: People Pay Tribute to Latino Veterans on Internet
Memorial Day weekend has arrived again, and although we know the holiday brings us plenty of pleasure as we watch movies, eat barbeque and enjoy the warmer weather, we also want to remember to pay respect to the men and women who have lost their lives in service to our country, and salute the ones who continue to serve.
This week also brings the annual celebration "Fleet Week," "bringing a diverse group of nearly 1,500 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to the city." Latinos in particular are well represented; as reported by New Jersey Newsroom, Hispanics are the third-largest group in that military branch.
"I've been in America for approximately five years and I've gained my associates degree and working on my bachelors degree," said Diana Pollydore, who was born in Guyana. "I've gained so many things and I felt the only way I can give back to the government, because he sent me to school for free, is by serving."
Latinos make up a large percentage of the United States military as a whole. According to this article at Latina Lista, there are 1.2 million Latinos 18 or older who are military veterans. According to The Department of Defense, Latinos comprised 11.4 percent of the active-duty military in 2013. That's more than 157,000 people, and the number is growing.
While it's impossible to single out every person who has put their life on the line defending their country, Fox News Latino has put together a short list of just a few of the many soldiers that deserve our applause.
"When a 35-foot fall left Army Cpt. Reinaldo González II paralyzed from the neck down in 2007, one of his main goals was, of course, to walk again," writes Fox News.
However, González had other goals as well. He wanted to be deployed to Afghanistan again. Three years after the accident, González got his wish. He regained the ability to walk and now serves as Aide de Camp to the Deputy Commander of Regional Command, North.
The site also pays respect to Cpt. Juan Guerro, an amputee who was the victim of a bomb blast and now competes in The Warrior Games, an athletic event for injured members of the military.
"This year I'm cycling 30-kilometers, doing the 10-meter air rifle shooting, a 50-meter swim, a 100-meter race, and shot put," said Guerro.
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