Commander Alvarez Jr., USN Retired;
Sergeant Hosana L. Feraud, USMC, and
Major General Fred Padilla, USMC 15th
President National Defense University.
Commander Alvarez Jr., USN Retired;
Yeoman First Class Ainara Farin, USCG,
and Rear Admiral James Rendon,
Superintendent USCG Academy.
Luncheon participants included Mistress of Ceremonies Bianca Barcelo,
Assistant General Counsel at the Library of Congress; Presentation
of the Colors by the USMC Color Guard; the singing of the National Anthem
by Gunnery Sergeant Sara Sheffield, USMC Band. Invocation was
provided by Major Luis A. Garayua III, CH, USA.
Welcome remarks were provided by Clearance “CJ” Johnson, Department
of Defense Director of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity. The
Salute to Fallen Heroes was presided by Lieutenant Commander Johnny
Quezada, U.S. Navy, LDO, Retired.
After such distinguished ceremony, Robert Bard welcomed keynote
speaker Commander Everett Alvarez Jr., U.S. Navy, Retired, to the stage.
Alvarez is the longest-held prisoner of war in American Military History
and the recipient of Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, two-Legion
of Merit, two Bronze Star and two Purple Heart. The luncheon was also the
stage for the President’s Award to honor Commander Alvarez for his distinguished
service to the country and exemplary work as a Latino role model.
(L-R) U.S. Navy recipients: Alma Rubalcava,
Chief Legalman Alicia R. Cooper, Midshipman
First Class Daniela Pimentel, USN Academy,
and Aviation Electronics Technician First
Class Linda Galaviz, USN.
(L-R) U.S. Army recipients: Colonel Isabel
Rivera Smith; U.S. Army National Guard;
Cadet First Class Richelle Radcliff, U.S.
Military Academy (West Point) and Specialist
Melanie M. Adamski, U.S. Army.
Commander Alvarez Jr., USN Retired and
Master Sergeant Lucero Stockett, USAF.
Commander Alvarez Jr., USN Retired;
Cadet First Class Angel Fay, USCG
Academy; Lieutenant Jayna McCarron,
USCG, and Rear Admiral James Rendon,
Superintendent USCG Academy.
(L-R) Robert E. Bard, President & CEO,
LATINA Style, Inc.; Commander Everett
Alvarez Jr., U.S. Navy Retired & Former
POW; Lupita Colmenero, Executive Vice
President, LATINA Style, Inc.
(L-R) U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard,
Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.
(L-R) U.S. Military Academies recipients:
Cadet First Class Falon E. Little, USAF
Academy; Cadet First Class Richelle
Radcliff, U.S. Military Academy (West
Point); Midshipman First Class Daniela
Pimentel, USN Academy and Cadet First
Class Angel Fay, USCG Academy.
Commander Alvarez Jr., USN
Retired; Master Sergeant Yanira
Gonzalez; U.S. Air National Guard;
Lieutenant Colonel Steve L.
Bradley, U.S. Air National Guard,
Cynthia S. Tolle, SES, National
Guard Bureau; Jacqueline
Ray-Morris, EEO Manager for
Minority, National Guard Bureau.
2017 National LATINA Symposium and Distinguished Military Service Award Recipients.
LATINAStyle Vol. 23, No. 6, 2017 www.latinastyle.com 25