War Heroes Saluted
Campus Honors Veterans During Annual Program
November 11, 2008
By Debra Cano Ramos
Hundreds of people attended the annual Veterans Day event on Nov. 8, hosted by Cal State Fullerton and Latino Advocates for Education. The event featured displays of military memorabilia, hand-painted murals and quilts, as well as books for sale written by veteran authors. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
Proudly wearing their military uniforms, war medals and hats, veterans of all ages attended the Nov. 8 “A Tribute to Mexican-American Veterans” at Cal State Fullerton. Hundreds people attended the 12th annual veterans event on campus, sponsored by Latino Advocates for Education and Cal State Fullerton.
“There’s no question that Latinos have historically served and died in wars. We are gathered here today to remember their patriotism,” Frederick Aguirre, president of Latino Advocates for Education and an Orange County Superior Court judge, told the crowd of veterans and their families.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Braman, who was working at the Pentagon when the terrorist-hijacked airliner slammed into the building, told of his heroic acts of reentering the fiery, smoke-filled structure to search for survivors. Braman described the shocking scene as “living in a horror movie.”
The U.S. Army Ranger, an Orange County native whose Mexican-American family has a history of service in the military, said his instincts were to “never leave a fallen comrade.”
“I’m no hero; I didn’t do it for the medals,” said Braman, who suffered lung damage as a result of his actions and received the Purple Heart and a Soldier's Medal for bravery. “It wasn’t about me. It was all of us working together. … It’s a privilege to be part of history.”
State Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), a Cal State Fullerton alumnus, presented a proclamation to Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Braman, an Army Ranger who risked his life to save others during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Also pictured is Robert Palmer, vice president of student affairs on campus. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
The posting of colors opened the 12th annual Veterans Day celebration Nov. 8, which paid tribute to Mexican-American veterans and was hosted by Cal State Fullerton and Latino Advocates for Education. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
Guest speaker Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Braman, an Orange County native, shared with veterans and others the day he helped rescue people from the burning Pentagon building on Sept. 11, 2001: “We just reacted, as all patriots do at the time of war,” he said. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
Andres “Tito” Cano, 88, is a World War II Army veteran who served in the Philippines. The Anaheim resident was among veterans of all ages who attended the Nov. 8 “A Tribute to Mexican-American Veterans” at Cal State Fullerton. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
La Habra resident Jesus Rodriguez, 76, who served as a corporal and received a Silver Star for valor in the Korean War, stands next to his enlistment photo at age 17. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz
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Produced by the Office of Public Affairs at California State University, Fullerton.