Harriman dedicates River Road as Lt. Emily Perez Way

Veterans’ efforts recognize the accomplishments of a soldier they never knew, By Claudia Wysocki HARRIMAN - Emily Perez was the sort of person who could bring people together, according to her father Daniel. And she did just that Sunday with a parade and a moving dedication ceremony in her honor. Second Lt. Emily J.T. Perez was a daughter, a West Point cadet and a United States Army soldier who would ultimately lose her life in battle at the age of 23. She was killed on Sept. 12, 2006, when an improvised bomb blew up near her Humvee in Al Kifl, Iraq. With that explosion, Perez became the first female West Point graduate to die in Iraq and the first female black and Hispanic officer ever to die in combat. Her decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. After her death, she received the NCAA Award of Valor. She could have been buried at the National Arlington Cemetery. Her love of West Point took precedence, though, and her family chose that to be her final resting place. Never met her Sunday’s parade and ceremony were the culmination of the efforts of two brothers from Harriman who took on the task of having a local road named in her honor. Gerry and Paul Oser, both veterans and members of the Mulligan-Eden American Legion Post 1573 in Harriman, didn’t even know Emily Perez. Never met her. But they had heard enough about her to lead the way to having her name added to the River Road sign in Harriman. As of Sunday, it is now also known as Lt. Emily Perez Way. A parade led by a contingent of West Point cadets, veterans, Knights of Columbus, the Nam Knights of Orange County and Rolling Thunder bikers and volunteer firefighters opened the ceremony. And then those who loved Emily Perez - and those who knew of her only by reputation - spoke eloquently of the fallen soldier. 'A hugger’ Her mother Vicki, who traveled with her husband and other family members from their home in Fort Washington, Maryland, for the ceremony, described her daughter as “a hugger.” She recalled that when they first brought Emily to West Point, she was afraid of being late and ran off to her position in line without a proper goodbye. “She called me later, sobbing uncontrollably,” said Vicki. “She said, 'I didn’t get a chance to kiss you goodbye and hug you.’” And, she added, “Emily would have had hugged each and every one of you here. She would have been very humbled by this. She would want this honor to represent every veteran who has fallen.” 'Lead she would’ Other speakers added their thoughts during the ceremony. Among them was West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon. “Emily ran a whirlwind race at West Point, caring and taking care of others,” he said. “Friends talk of her compassion, her tenacity - 'Don’t worry about me,’ she would say.” She lived the values of her loving military family and of West Point. “And lead - lead she would, too, to the highest command as a Sgt. Major.” She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and lettered for four years in track, leading the 4x100-meter relay team to three outdoor Patriot League championships. “All of us can envision Emily running by,” he said. “And we will never forget her and all those who have fallen.” State Sen. William Larkin Jr. said Emily Perez strove to be a model cadet, and she succeeded. “One of the hardest things for a parent to hear is, 'We regret we have to inform that you your child was killed in combat.’ You do not know what to do.” Filling her shoes In the Perez family, others will step up to try filling Emily’s shoes. “We have a family tradition that the daughter takes care of the mother when she gets on in years,” said Vicki Perez. “Emily’s intention was to do that for me. And now my grandson Kyrahn has told me not to worry. He will take care of me.” Emily would have liked knowing that.

We are here to honor a fallen graduate and soldier. We will remember her and for what we’re all still doing - and fighting for our freedom. This is what we are trained for. Some people forget we fight in war after graduation.” Capt. Nolan Gordon, West Point

In Harriman ... we never forget those who keep us free.” The Rev. Msgr. Joseph F. Reynolds ,pastor of St. Anastasia’s Church

She wouldn’t have wanted (the ceremony). She was humbled, but she deserves it.” Second Lt. Emily Perez’s brother Kevin Perez