Prestigious Military Academy Honors Victim of Florida School Shooting

Prestigious Military Academy Honors Victim of Florida School Shooting
People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on Feb. 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Numerous law enforcement officials continue to investigate the scene. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Bowen Xiao
2/20/2018
Updated:
2/20/2018

U.S. Military Academy at West Point is honoring a Florida school shooting victim by admitting him posthumously.

The late fifteen-year-old Peter Wang had dreamed of joining the prestigious academy, reported the Sun-Sentinel. Wang has now been hailed as a hero for his selfless actions during the carnage that unfolded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, the academy tweeted that they would honor Wang with a 2025 letter of acceptance.

“One of USMA’s priorities is to develop leaders of character who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor & Country. Peter Wang’s actions on February 14 are an example of those principles,” the tweet reads, in part.

Wang was killed in his Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) uniform on Wednesday as he was holding the door open to allow others to escape.

West Point alumnus Chad Maxey said they granted Wang’s family a letter of admission and honorarium tokens, reported the Sun-Sentinel.

The Army’s JROTC is one of the largest high school programs in the world. According to their website, they focus on leadership, teamwork, character education, personal responsibility, a sense of accomplishment, and service to the nation.
A U.S. Army spokesman told Fox News on Tuesday that the Cadet Command has approved JROTC Heroism Medals for Wang and two other cadets: Alaina Petty and Martin Duque.

All three students will also be getting the Army’s Medal of Heroism, the highest honor for Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets said Michael Maddox, spokesman for the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

Wang’s funeral was held on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Kraeer Funeral Home in Coral Springs. He was laid to rest at Bailey Memorial Gardens in North Lauderdale.

The story behind Wang “has kindled so many hearts for action in a time when things have felt so hopeless,” Maxey told the newspaper in a text message.

The honorable heroism award is rarely given out, a West Point spokesman said.

Wang was the oldest son in his family — he has two younger brothers. His parents own a restaurant at Pompano Beach.

A petition to give Wang a full military burial has already gained over 68,000 signatures.
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Bowen Xiao was a New York-based reporter at The Epoch Times. He covers national security, human trafficking and U.S. politics.
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