More than 200 people gathered May 26 to celebrate the life of Capt. Paul Wenceslaus Pea with the dedication of the Hills of Hays neighborhood park in Pea's honor.

Pea was an Eagle Scout of Troop 112, a San Marcos Academy graduate and a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate. He was killed in January 2010 by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan.

Pea grew up in the Hills of Hays, and neighbor Elena Duran initiated the charge to dedicate the park in Pea's memory.

Christian Fierro, a fellow West Point Academy cadet and close friend of Pea's, remembered his late friend at the ceremony.

"Paul had a love for life that was contagious. He loved God, family, friends and he also loved his country," Fierro said. "We are thankful that this park will now bear your name and shed light on the future of America."

Another West Point classmate of Pea's, Capt. Andy DeSantiago, followed Fierro in remembering Pea.

"Today we look at this Memorial Day weekend as the event where we dedicate this landmark to the memory of our great son, nephew, cousin and friend, Paul Pea," DeSantiago said.

Also among the many who spoke about Pea was Lt. Col. Jason Miseli, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, as well as San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero, who commented on the dedication's attendance.

"The honest truth is that this is a very small number of folks that Paul touched. This is just a sample of the impact that your son had not only on this community, not only the [San Marcos] Academy, not only on scouting, but really on this nation," Guerrero said.

Guerrero presented Pea's mother, Cecilia Pea, with a plaque identical to the one displayed at the front entrance to the park commemorating Pea's life.

"Today I ask that you leave this park with a living memorial in your heart. In the course of your daily activities, no matter how grand or how seemingly small, think of Capt. Paul Pea," Miseli said.

Cpt. Paul Pea Park is located at 1209 Crystal River Parkway in San Marcos.