Three years ago, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza died for his country. And United ISD and his family made sure he will never be forgotten at a special ceremony at Lyndon B. Johnson High School.
A single chime rang out 13 times in the school’s library to honor each of the 13 service members who gave their lives for our country following a terrorist bombing at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021. LCpl Espinoza was among those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. He was a 2019 graduate of Lyndon B. Johnson School.
Throughout the day, two JROTC cadets stood by his sculpture. LCpl Espinoza, who grew up in Rio Bravo, was just 20 when he died.
“There is not a day that goes by that we don’t remember him,” said his Gold Star mother, Elizabeth Holguin. “8-26 is a very hard day for us - it’s very memorable. And with the District’s help on this day, we thank you for helping us keep his memory alive. It is very hard even though it’s been three years.”
Sitting in front of the bronze bust sculpture of LCpl Espinoza in the school library that carries his namesake, his family somberly accepted hugs and handshakes from teachers, administrators and students who then laid white and red flowers at the base of the sculpture.
“Thank you all for everybody that has supported us from the beginning to this point and going forward,” said Victor Manuel Dominguez, father of LCpl Espinoza. “And with your help on this day, we thank you for helping us keep his memory alive.”
His mother, donning a purple shirt, said, “I know he’s looking down at us and he’s very thankful and he’s very proud of what he did helping so many people and giving us our freedom.”
LBJ Principal Armando Salazar said that “it’s important to remember him because I, first and foremost, want the family to know that we’re still with him and we haven’t forgotten him. He will always be remembered for the sacrifice.”
Salazar said the school will have this event annually to make sure we never forgot the sacrifices made by LCpl Espinoza.
“We will remember them and him every year. I remember vividly the day he came back. Laredo has done a great job of honoring him and his memory,” Salazar added.
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