Three Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) cadets killed during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, have been awarded the Medal of Heroism.
It is with broken hearts that Sunrise Post 365 & Stoneman Douglas JROTC shares the loss of our soaring eagles! We honor them, and will miss their courage, tenacity, and their smiles! Cadet Peter Wang, Cadet Martin Duque, and Cadet Alaina Petty. May they always soar high! pic.twitter.com/eg0TKprzMV
— sunrisepost365 (@sunrisepost365) February 18, 2018
An Army spokesperson told the Daily Beast and Fox News that the Medal of Heroism was presented to the family of Alaina Petty during a memorial service on Monday. The family of Peter Wang will be presented with the medal during a memorial service held Tuesday. Martin Duque’s family will be presented with the medal on Saturday.
Cadets whose performance “involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities” are awarded the Medal of Heroism, according to the Daily Beast.
Duque, Wang and Petty were among three of 17 people killed by former JROTC member and ex-student Nikolas Cruz during last week’s school shooting.
Peter Wang died in his JROTC uniform Wednesday helping others escape the gunfire at the school. He held the door open for other students trying to escape the gunfire.
Last week a petition was created to see that he received a military funeral for his effort.
The petition says: “He was a JROTC Cadet who was last seen, in uniform, holding doors open and thus allowing other students, teachers and staff to flee to safety. Wang was killed in the process. His selfless and heroic actions have led to the survival of dozens in the area. Wang died a hero, and deserves to be treated as such, and deserves a full honors military burial.”
Wang was posthumously admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point Class of 2025, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
Brittany Wallman (Twitter)
Capt. Shahin Uddin will provide Wang’s family with the letter of admission, West Point alumni Chad Maxey told the Sun-Sentinel.
On Monday morning, about 1,500 people attended the funeral of Alaina Petty, including Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
“It’s impossible to sum up all that Alaina is and all that she means to her family and friends,” Alaina’s father, Ryan Petty, told the Sun-Sentinel.
“You could not escape her innate sense right and wrong, but you never felt that she was judging you,” he added. “She just wanted to be your friend.”
Martin Duque’s older brother, Miguel, set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs. The page has raised nearly $40,000 of its $10,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.
“He was a very funny kid, outgoing but sometimes really quiet,” Miguel Duque wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He was sweet and caring and loved by everyone in his family. Most of all, he was my baby brother. My family and I have no words to describe the what we feel and the tragedy that we are living. All my prayers to the ones we lost and everyone who lived this horror and is traumatized. My family and I appreciate any help you can give. R.I.P Martin Duque
