May 18, 2021
Author: Sylvia Gutierrez
With Jaguar and Antonio’s memorial in NC coming up next week, I am reminded of an indelible moment that took place at the 7th Group Memorial in Florida back in November.
It occurred during the final roll call and it still causes me to tear up today. The final roll call is when each team member’s name is called and they answer with “Here Sergeant Major”. It’s heart wrenching for families waiting to hear their loved one’s name called knowing that they will not be there to answer. As the final roll call begins for Jaguar and the names begin to be called out, my heart becomes anxious, the lump in my throat grows, my body tenses. . . then they call for Jaguar.
Sergeant Major: SFC Gutierrez – (s-i-l-e-n-c-e)
SFC Javier Gutierrez – (s-i-l-e-n-c-e)
SFC Javier Jaguar Gutierrez – (s-i-l “Here Sergeant Major!”)
Startled. Confused. Who had spoken? It takes me a second to process that Javier, no longer able to tolerate the silence, had answered for his beloved son. His loving gesture hits me so deep that my tears are unceasing. Even though it’s been months since that day, I still get emotional every time I think of a father who only wanted to hear his son answer, and when he didn’t, he shouted to the world that his son was still here.
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