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IRVING, Texas - The gun salute is an honor given to those who
have sacrificed their lives in defense of our country. This
three-volley salute is traditionally followed by the playing of Taps
and the presentation of an American flag that was draped over the
coffin.
What many don't know is that the spent shell casings
are collected off the ground and then presented to the family.
The family of Army Sgt. Paul T. Sanchez received 21 shell
casings after he was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device in
Iraq. Sanchez, of Irving, Texas, was killed in Baghdad on Jan. 14,
2007 during his second deployment to the Middle East.
He
served as a Military Police Officer with the 89th Military Police
Brigade at Fort Drum in New York and desired to return to Texas to
become an Irving police officer. His son, Adrian, was only 10 years
old at the time.
Adrian is now a senior at Irving High School and is preparing to
graduate this spring. As a tribute to his father, he volunteers with
the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and helps with various
events. He isn't a cadet as his true passion is music, not the
military, but he enjoys the opportunity to serve and be around the
students in this leadership program.
Adrian has no problem
being around the military, even with the loss of his dad, who also
attended Irving High School. “It's not like the military took my
father,” he said. “My dad gave his life. The Army was something that
he really enjoyed and loved doing.”
As a sophomore, an
English class project prompted Adrian to bring the spent shell
casings to school. Concerned that there might be an issue, he asked
his teacher for advice and then brought them to the vice principal
to be sure. A decision was made to have him turn the casings over
until the end of the school year.
The vice principal
transferred schools in the middle of the year, but sadly the shell
casings, which meant so much to Adrian and his family, disappeared
somewhere along the way, never to be seen again.
Upon hearing the story, Dr. Don Shelton, a board member with the
Air Power Foundation, knew that he had to do something to rectify
the situation.
The Air Power Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
organization that supports the military community in the D/FW area
by providing grants to those that work with the military, wounded
warriors and the families of fallen military heroes. Among many
organizations that the foundation sponsors is Snowball Express,
which benefits the families of service members lost during the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Dr. Don Shelton presents 21 shell casings to Andrian Sanchez at
Irving High School on May 14, 2014. From Left to Right: USMC Command
Sgt. Maj. Willie Martin, Dr. Don Shelton, Adrian Sanchez, Florence
Garza (mother), Ashliegh Sanchez (sister), Linda Kim (Irving High
School Principal), USMC Command Sgt. Major Ruben Pereida, and Roman
Palomares. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Randall Stillinger)
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Shelton and foundation chairman Roman Palomares were at
an end-of-year recognition ceremony for the JROTC cadets on
May 14. They were there to present a $500 check to continue
funding a local radio station that Shelton helped set up
earlier in the school year. The money will go to buy radio
advertising, a means of raising money for the cadets.
After Palomares
presented the check to the school, Shelton called Adrian up
to the stage for a special surprise. He, along with his
mother, Florence Garza and sister Ashliegh were presented a
framed bronze plaque surrounded by 21 shell casings.
Although the casings are not the original ones from 2007,
they were from a special tribute, done just for Sgt. Sanchez
and his family earlier this year. Dr. Shelton told Adrian's
story to a Marine honor guard, who was more than willing to
perform the tribute and provide the casings.
“It's
really a humbling feeling to know that there are people who
still care about someone who gave his life for our country,”
Adrian said. “My father being recognized means so much to
me, especially not having him here during my senior year.”
Shelton, and funding from the foundation, helped the
JROTC unit set up the local radio station, which is
broadcast locally and around the world via the Internet.
Cadets operate KIFR, AM Radio 1690, which teaches them about
the radio industry, but also the importance of freedom of
speech.
The awards presentation recognized cadets for
outstanding performance during the school year in areas such
as physical fitness, academics, leadership and color guard.
The National Anthem for the event was performed by Adrian's
sister, Ashliegh.
By U.S. Army Maj. Randall Stillinger
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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