Pedro R. Espinoza

West Point, 1993

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by James Espinoza on May 26, 2018:

Ponce was my older brother. When we went to West Point for his funeral, I was very moved and very thankful for the love and support the USMA Class of 1993 graduates showed to my mother, my sister, extended family and me. Many local citizens and his local family also showed up in high numbers and shared many happy thoughts and memories of him. He was buried at the United States Military Academy, West Point with full military honors, as he desired. I grew up with Ponce and from a very young age he was my Hero. I followed him around the neighborhood, followed him on the soccer field, went to his track & cross country meets and the followed him into the US Army. I know he was loved his family, he was proud of the friends he had throughout his youth, the friends he met at West Point and throughout his military career. He loved you everyone like family. There is not a person he talked to without a smile on his face. He was full of laughter and happiness when we were together and he was our shining star. A champion runner. A state champion soccer player. A coach. An Army Officer. An Army combat veteran. A friend. An Uncle. A brother. A son. A Husband. A father to 4 beautiful children. No matter who you were or where you came from he would welcome you into to his life. I am grateful for everything he was and everything he stood for. He was proud to be one of your friends and classmates. Please pay a smile forward, a handshake, a hug, a beer, help someone, just listen to someone, encourage someone...in his honor. That's what he would want. Ponce is now eternally my Hero. Thank you all for your love and support during this difficult time. Thank you all for being Ponce's friend. He will be missed greatly. We will hold a memorial service in the coming months for his friends and family in Cali. Sincerely, James Espinoza

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