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NEWS | Sept. 12, 2007

Army Guard Latina recognized for military service

By Staff Sgt. Rebecca Doucette National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON - Many service members never imagine what they will accomplish when they join the military. They simply hope to do a little traveling and learn some new skills. But Army National Guard Master Sgt. Katherine Perez, a public affairs specialist for the National Guard Bureau's Office of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications, has accomplished more than just the usual.

Perez was presented one of this year's six awards for Meritorious Service in the Global War on Terror by LATINA Style magazine Sept. 6th at the Capital Hilton.

The awards are presented to women of Hispanic descent, Latinas, for their military service. Perez will be included in a feature article in the magazine's October edition along with five other recipients, one from each of the military services.

"Because we do these things on an everyday basis, we don't really think about this. But when you look at the picture of anybody's career, hopefully they'll see too that they are quite capable of achieving and being nominated for the same" said Perez about inspiring other Latinas in the military.

LATINA Style created the awards in 2004 to recognize Latinas serving in the military, because nothing like that existed at the national level. The National Guard began nominating an individual recipient in 2006 through the Special Emphasis Programs, part of the National Guard Bureau's office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights.

Robert Bard, the magazine's president and CEO, thanked all the service men and women for all they do for our country, especially the Latina families.

"These women are really unsung heroes. And we live in times where Hispanic contributions to our country are really questioned by a lot of people in this country," Bard said. "What we're able to do is highlight and profile these women that are really great contributors to the welfare and to the advancement of our country, and I think that should be recognized."

Perez' military career spans 31 years of Army service including time on active duty, in the Army Reserve, and now in the National Guard. Perez has also been featured as a single military parent on the cover of a military magazine, and in 2003 she represented the Army during the kickoff of the NFL season in Washington.

 

 

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