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Petition Started for 15-Year-Old Florida School Shooting Hero Demands Full Military Burial
Just days after the tragic school shooting in Florida, people have started a petition calling for student Peter Wang to receive a full honors military burial. The 15-year-old JROTC cadet was one of the 17 victims shot and killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.
Now, due to his heroic actions on that day, more than 60,000 people have signed a petition asking the White House to give him the military funeral he deserves. According to his friends, Peter died while holding a door open to allow others to escape. “He died a gentleman holding the door for other students,” his classmate Kelsey Friend told CNN. Another friend told the Florida Sun-Sentinel that Peter had plans to attend West Point and serve in the military. The elite military academy recently announced it would be sending Peter’s family a letter of admission and honorarium tokens.
A JROTC Freshman Sacrificed Himself To Help Classmates Escape During Florida Shooting https://t.co/JtnmfCDIdJ pic.twitter.com/9tq1yUT4IZ
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) February 16, 2018
“He was a JROTC Cadet who was last seen, in uniform, holding doors open and thus allowing other students, teachers, and staff to flee to safety,” the petition reads. “Wang was killed in the process. His selfless and heroic actions have led to the survival of dozens in the area.”
It has yet to be decided if Peter will receive full honors at his burial, but members of the military are expected to attend his funeral, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Coral Springs, Fla. Some redditors were also divided over whether or not Peter qualified for a full honors burial but suggested some other awards that could be presented to the teen posthumously.
“There are civilian awards at federal and state levels, there are Florida National Guard awards, as well as local government awards and honors which I believe would be more appropriate to honor his sacrifice,” one person wrote on the thread. Another added, “If I understand correctly, Gold Valor is Air Force and he was Army. I believe the equivalent is the Medal of Heroism. That said, he’s 100% worthy of the honor.”
To help prevent gun violence and save lives, you can donate to the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund here.
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