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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (3/12/12) — One of 1st Sgt. Daymond Graves'
first memories of Cpl. Miguel Baez was of him smiling, laughing, and
joking as he sat at his place of duty, performing guard duty while
they were both assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne
Infantry Regiment during the “Surge.”
From right to left Elena Baez, Col. Tim McAteer, Miguel Baez Jr., Ramona Baez and Col. Stephen Sicinski
unveil the dedication plaque, Feb. 28, 2012. The dedication of the
Baez School Age Services is just one of the many ways that the Army
honors its fallen soldiers. Soldiers like Cpl. Miguel A. Baez III
may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo |
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Graves, now the first sergeant for A Company, 1-325th, was one of
the many fellow paratroopers, friends and family that attended the
dedication of the Baez School Age Services facility, Feb. 28. The
building is located on Longstreet at Fort Bragg, N.C.
People
came from all over to attend this ceremony. Adam Johnson drove from
central Virginia to attend the dedication. Johnson was Miguel's team
leader during his tour in Iraq, and is now a police officer. “There
are people that you meet in your life that forever change your life,
Miguel was one of them,” said Johnson. Miguel was a guy that could
light up the room with his smile and his laughter was contagious, he
said. “I have lost many friends in the line of service, but Miguel
was the hardest for me,” said Johnson. “Miguel was my brother.” |
“Miguel believed in the idea of a Band of Brothers, and
he felt that way with his friends,” said Romona Baez, Cpl.
Baez's mother, as she tried to hold back the tears of love
for her son. “I am proud to be here and be a part of this
dedication for my son Miguel.”
“Baez was someone who
was devoted to his family, his friends, and his country,”
said Capt. Tom Nelson, current student of Chapel Hill
University, N.C. and served as the executive officer for C
Company. Nelson also added it is only fitting that the Baez
School Age Services, a child and youth center, was dedicated
to him because of his love for his children.
Col. Stephen Sicinski,
Fort Bragg garrison commander, said the Baez School Age
Services is the fourth out of nine such facilities to be
completed on Fort Bragg. The Army Family Covenant started in
November 2007 and is the program responsible for achieving
the child and youth facilities on Fort Bragg.
The
centers help to reduce the wait lists for child care and the
Baez School Age Services center alone will provide over 190
spots for the children of the community and provide much
needed additional childcare on Fort Bragg, said Sicinski.
Miguel Baez's wife, Elena Baez, said that the speech
given by Col. Timothy McAteer, brigade commander of the
2/82, at the ceremony was an accurate description of her
husband. McAteer spoke of how Baez showed leadership,
motivation, personal courage and great drive in everything
he did.
“I am still in awe over the dedication of
this center to Miguel, my Miguel,” said Elena.
Elena
and her five children, Miguel's parents, his brother and
sister attended the ceremony. They have been waiting eagerly
for this day to come. She can remember receiving the phone
call about the dedication and feeling overwhelmed with
emotion. Elena said she was extremely honored and proud to
be there for the ceremony.
“Miguel was a family man,
a great husband and an even better father,” Elena said. She
remembered a conversation with Miguel while he was deployed,
asking the family to mail him school supplies and candy for
the children he would meet on his patrols. He just loved
kids.
The Army and Fort Bragg have made a commitment
to our Gold Star families and the dedication of the Baez
School Age Services is just one of the many ways that the
Army honors its fallen soldiers. Paratroopers like Baez may
be gone, but they will never be forgotten.
By Army Sgt. Matthew Ryan
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd
Airborne Division Public Affairs
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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