Peter Wang, the 15-year-old JROTC cadet who was killed during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week as he helped hold open a door so his classmates could escape before him, will be posthumously admitted to the United States Military Academy, popularly known as West Point.
The Sun Sentinel broke the story, noting that Wang dreamed of attending West Point and would have been in the Class of 2025.
Peter Wang, a victim of the Stoneman Douglas shooting, wanted to go to West Point. The school is planning to give his family a letter of acceptance to the Class of 2025. pic.twitter.com/Ut49ldNNU7
— Aric Chokey (@aric_chokey) February 20, 2018
Local West Point alumnus Chad Maxey told the Sun Sentinel that West Point has sent a letter of admission, along with honorarium tokens, to Wang’s family, personally delivered by Captain Shahin Uddin, who flew down to South Florida for this purpose.
Wang is only the second high school student in history to have received this honor. “This story…has kindled so many hearts for action in a time when things have felt so hopeless,” said Maxey.
West Point will provide the family of Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting victim Peter Wang a letter of acceptance to West Point Class of 2025, which was his dream, and honorarium tokens. His funeral is today. pic.twitter.com/kOb9P5mjdd
— Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) February 20, 2018
Here's the West Point certificate of appointment for Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting victim Peter Wang, 15. https://t.co/vzMw5fdGwT pic.twitter.com/yXM4rnASoz
— Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) February 20, 2018
As RedState reported earlier, JROTC participation is not official military service, and Wang therefore would not be eligible for a full military burial, but his heroism will not go unrecognized. The Stoneman Douglas JROTC will conduct the funeral service and provide an honor guard. Military members on the r/military forum on Reddit organized an effort to attend Wang’s funeral in uniform to show their respects, as well as sending military patches and challenge coins to Wang’s family.
Vets holding flags outside of Peter Wang’s funeral today. Wang, 15, died among 17 others after the Stoneman Douglas shooting. pic.twitter.com/31m7xFttKN
— Aric Chokey (@aric_chokey) February 20, 2018
Members of the @AmericanLegion and other vet groups are getting ready to ride out to Peter Wang’s burial. pic.twitter.com/IhWqyAZ93J
— Aric Chokey (@aric_chokey) February 20, 2018
Two other members of the Stoneman Douglas JROTC were among those killed in the shooting: Alaina Petty, a 14-year-old whose funeral was Monday, and Martin Duque, also 14, whose funeral will be Saturday. Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) has directed the Florida National Guard to attend all three funerals to honor the cadets.
Each of them will be awarded the Army’s Medal of Heroism, the highest honor available for ROTC cadets, according to Michael Maddox, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
UPDATE: West Point posted the announcement on their Facebook page, noting that Wang “lost his life in service to others,” and the academy was honoring him with the honorary admission “for his bravery and selflessness” and for being an example of the very principles upon which West Point was founded.
Follow Sarah Rumpf on Twitter: @rumpfshaker.
[Cross-posted at The Capitolist.]
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