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Mexico bars 21-gun salute to honor U.S. Marine killed in Iraq
U.S. Marines wonât be allowed to fire a traditional gun salute at the graveside of a Mexican-American killed in Iraq, Mexican officials said Thursday, citing the countryâs laws against foreigners carrying firearms. Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, who was born in the central Mexico state of Guanajuato and resided in Dalton, Ga., was one of four U.S. Marines killed in an ambush in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on June 21. Lopez was born in the town of San Luis de la Paz and emigrated to the United States as a teenager. His mother and other family members stayed in Mexico. But Mexicoâs Secretary of Defense turned down the request, saying the salute violated constitutional measures preventing foreign soldiers from bearing arms on Mexican soil. "The United states, to respect the sovereignty of Mexico, scaled back the firing detail," Gwilliam said, adding that six Marines now plan to attend the funeral simply as pallbearers. Mexico wants the USA "to respect" its sovereignity but does not want to return the favor. Pity that this GI could not get the burial honors that he deserves. Posted by: rex 2004-07-02 |
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