SAN ELIZARIO, TX, USA U.S. Army LCPL, 3D BN, 6TH MAR, (RCT-1, I MEF FWD), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC BALAD, IRAQ 06/11/2008
Javier Perales was a lifetime resident of El Paso, Texas. Javier was a good son, brother and an active member of the catholic community. He graduated from San Elizario High School and soon after joined the United States Marines. In San Elizario,
the community more often hears about someone joining the service than they do someone dying while in the service.
“It’s shocking. It’s hitting really close to home,” said San Elizario Fire Captain Robert Lopez.
Lopez feels a sense of sadness to find out someone from the community joined the Marines and didn’t come home. Like most people in this town, Lopez connects with those in the military even if he never got to know them.
“My dad was in the military, my uncles, my brother, my father-in-law. We’re a big military family,” said Lopez.
Some may say San Elizario is a military town. Historians say the town was originally a fort and the town is named after the patron saint of the soldiers, San Elizario. Inside the San Elizario Mission, the memory of the residents of this town who served in wars lives on.
“We are recognizing their efforts and of course some of them died, including my mother’s brother,” said Lillian Trujillo, a resident of San Elizario.
She said San Elizario sons and daughters wish to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
“Everyone learns from their ancestors and they want to continue the tradition,” said Trujillo.
But sometimes the tradition doesn’t have a happy ending.
“Putting their names up there makes the veterans and the family of the veterans know that they’re not forgotten. That’s one thing we need to do. We must never forget them because freedom isn’t free,” said Lopez.
Javier is survived by his Loving parents, Javier Perales, Sr. and Carolina Perales; brothers, Fernando & Ricardo Perales. Javier’s portrait is also on Poster 12
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