|
 Ortiz was commissioned through ROTC at San Diego
State University as an Aviation Officer. He graduated with honors
from his Basic Officer’s Leader’s course. Ortiz also attended the
Army’s Helicopter Over Water Survival Training course and Escape
School.
During Ortiz’s military career, he served at the Army Aviation
Headquarters as Fort Rucker, Alabama. In addition, Ortiz served at
the Soldier’s Support Institute in Fort Jackson, North Carolina and
in the Tenth Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.
Ortiz left active service last year. He is a disabled veteran, but
does not say that to inflate himself in any way. Instead, Ortiz said
it is to highlight the fact he accepted the risk of disability when
joining the military.
When Ortiz entered active duty, Ortiz’s captain told him something
very profound. The captain said, “Miguel, when you raise your right
hand to take that oath, understand you are writing a check to the
American people for a value up to and including your life.” Ortiz
said it has stuck with him ever since.
With Ortiz’s disabilities, he said he was lucky the check was not
cashed for its full amount. Ortiz then said we are here today to
remember those who did.
During Ortiz’s time in the army, he was fortunate to only know one
person who died in the line of duty. Ortiz said Chief Warrant
Officer Daniel Prial was one of the best officers, pilots and
mentors he has been blessed to know.
Prial served in Afghanistan, flying medical evacuation missions for
the 82nd Airborne Division. Prial’s job was to fly into danger
rescuing wounded comrades and bringing them back to safety. Ortiz
said Prial knew the risks of flying such missions and was willing to
make the ultimate sacrifice to save a comrade.
Although Prial took fire during missions, he returned from
Afghanistan unharmed. Ortiz met Prial when Prial was a Flight School
instructor. Ortiz said Prial really cared about his students.
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To keep flying, Prial reverted from his rank of Captain to Warrant
Officer and joined the New York National Guard. On January 20, 2021,
Prial lost his life during a training mission near Rochester, New
York. Prial and the two others on the flight had decades of military
experience between them, but none of that prevented the aircraft
from suffering a mishap and crashing that night. All three were
killed.
All three served combat tours overseas but did not die there.
Instead, they died here in America. Ortiz said still, it does not
make their sacrifice worth any less than a combat death.
Prial and the other two wrote their checks like the rest in uniform,
but theirs were cashed for the full amount.
Memorial Day is not just about honoring our war dead but is also
about remembering all Americans who gave their life in service of
our country. Ortiz said their sacrifice, whether on a faraway field
or local training ground, still ensures we have our freedom today.
As Ronald Reagan famously said, freedom is never more than one
generation away from extinction. Ortiz said it is the ultimate
sacrifice made by Americans like Prial that safeguard freedoms for
the next generation.
It is said that a person is not dead while their name is said. Ortiz
wears a memorial band with Dan’s name on it so he remembers to say
Dan’s name and keep his memory alive.
On Memorial Day, Ortiz encouraged everyone to choose the name of a
fallen service member. Ortiz said we should say their name aloud and
keep their memory alive.
To take advantage of the freedom purchased for us, Ortiz said to go
out and have a barbeque, toss a football or sit on the lake. Ortiz
said fallen service members would want people to enjoy the day.
Paraphrasing General Patton, Ortiz said it is foolish and wrong to
mourn men and women who died. Rather, we should thank God that such
people lived.
In closing, Ortiz said thank you all. God bless you and God bless
the United States of America.
[Angela Reiners]
[Text from file received from
] |
