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A death in the family
Staff Sgt. Pedro Jesus Colon, 25, came home to the Bronx last week - in a flag-draped coffin. Another of New York City's sons to fall on the field of battle, another to be be mourned, not only by family and friends and comrades in arms, but by his nation. And by his hometown.When the Army announced his Feb. 19 death, it listed that hometown as Cicero, Ill. But Colon was really a child of the Bronx. One of our own. His mother died when he was 9, and in his late teens he left home. At first he lived with a friend's family in Cicero. But eventually, unbeknownst to his own family back here, he ended up homeless. Until a social worker helped him find emergency housing. It was rough going - food pantries, living out of plastic bags - but Colon didn't complain. He didn't talk much about his living situation to teachers or coaches or even friends. He survived. Did better than survive. He made sure he got his high school diploma, and then he realized his dream of joining the Army. Colon enlisted in August 2001. Then he reenlisted. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he died from wounds suffered when his unit came under attack by enemy forces in Baghdad. After struggling, Pedro Colon had found a purpose in life. May he find peace in the death of a hero. May his family find comfort in knowing that they do not mourn alone. Posted by: ryuge 2007-03-07 |
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