Celebrate the birth of a Farmington hero born in February...Eric Paliwoda CPT

Eric Paliwoda

CPT Eric Paliwoda (2/23/75) of Farmington and West Hartford graduated from Conard High in 1993. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was a member of the Division I basketball and track and field teams. Paliwoda had been chosen to return to West Point as an instructor in the Department of Evironmental Studies. He will be missed and revered as a special leader who touched and changed many lives during his brief time on this earth.

MORE HEROES:

SSG Richard Eaton, Jr. (2/9/66) of Guilford

SSG Eaton, Jr. of Guilford answered to “Rick” by family and friends. He was a history buff who loved to read and played soccer and coached a children’s soccer team while stationed in Honduras. His death came nearly two years after a hijacked plan crashed into his office at the Pentagon in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was not working at the Pentagon at the time because his office was being renovated. Eaton was in the Army Reserves and deployed to Iraq at the time of his death. He was a young man who was dedicated to his country for which we will be forever grateful.

SPC Philip Schiller (2/18/91) of Barkhamsted joined the U.S. Army a few weeks after he graduated from high school. While in high school he dreamed of becoming a pilot in the Air Force but decided on the Army instead. His dream was to be a police officer one day. He will be missed by his family and friends and will be remembered as an American hero.

SPC Jacob Martir-Gutierrez (2/22/83) of Norwich knew he wanted to be a soldier at a very young age. It made him proud to be able to serve his country. He enlisted at the age of 17 and re-enlisted in 2002 after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Martir is a part of the new “greatest generation” with the character that draws someone to selfless duty to country making him a hero. We will never forget his sacrifice.

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