U.S. Army Will Award Medals Of Heroism To Three Victims Of The Florida School Shooting
In recognition of their sacrifices during last Wednesday's high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the U.S. Army has decided to honor and recognize three students who died in the massacre.
CNN reports that Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students Alaina Petty, 14; Martin Duque, 14; and Peter Wang, 15 — all of whom were cadets in the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program — will receive each receive a posthumous Medal of Heroism.
To earn such a distinction, an honoree's action "must be an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding that it clearly sets the individual apart from fellow students or from other persons in similar circumstances," the Army said in a statement. "The performance must have involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy fortitude and courage."
Other JROTC students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas who survived the shooting that left 17 dead are also being considered for the award, but the three late cadets have been given priority, Army spokesman Michael Maddox told CNN.
Alaina's award was given to her family during her funeral service Monday; Martin's family will accept his during a ceremony later in the week.
Peter, who is being laid to rest Tuesday, will have his medal pinned to the JROTC uniform he's being buried in. His family will receive a second "keepsake" medal, Maddox explained.
While authorities are still verifying exactly what happened inside the school when gunman Nikolas Cruz stormed the building with an AR-15 rifle on February 14, special mention has been made of Peter's actions during the ordeal: "He died a gentleman holding the door for other students [so they could escape]," one of his classmates told CNN.
Besides being honored with the Army's Medal of Heroism, Peter has also posthumously been offered admission to West Point Military Academy, the school said in a tweet Tuesday.
