San Marcos to dedicate park in honor of late soldier

"The City of San Marcos is honored to commemorate the sacrifices of such a hero by naming a park in his memory," Mayor Daniel Guerrero said in a statement. "He gave his life so that we may live in a free world. We must never forget."

The City has coordinated plans for the May 26 ceremony with Pea's mother, Cecilia Pea, family members and the San Marcos Academy.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. May 26.

Pea was born July 8, 1982, in San Antonio and grew up in San Marcos. He attended De Zavala and Bowie elementary schools and Lamar Middle School before enrolling at the San Marcos Academy for high school.

According to information provided by the city, Pea excelled as a student at SMA, in ROTC and as an Eagle Scout, and was named the "best all around student" and "most likely to succeed" by the school's honor society.

Military service, honors

Pea continued his education at West Point, then attended Infantry Officers Basic School, Basic Airborne School and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga.

He reported to Fort Richardson, Ala., with the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), and later was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

He was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He died of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 19, 2010, in the Arghandab River Valley in Afghanistan.

Pea won many decorations during his service to the nation, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Valorous Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab, according to the city.

For more information about the dedication ceremony, contact the San Marcos Parks & Recreation Department at 393-8400.