Full honors — Fallen US Navy Seaman Angelina “Angie” Petra Resendiz received full military honors at her funeral held in Brownsville on Friday. Members of the local LULAC Council attended the funeral to offer their support to the family. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
BROWNSVILLE, TX —Representatives from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 22347 – Juan Rivera Sr. & Veterans, based in San Benito, traveled to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Price Rd. last Friday afternoon in support of the family of fallen US Navy Seaman Angelina “Angie” Petra Resendiz.
“We’re here today to support the family in their loss,” said Elias Cantu, Communications Director for LULAC Council 22347. “We’re here as a council, from the council from San Benito, and we’re here with the Weslaco council as well, knowing that the family met with LULAC National Leadership and President Roman Palomares earlier this week in Washington DC demanding a thorough investigation into what happened.”
Resendiz’s body was recovered on June 9, a week after she went missing from a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. A male suspect, identified as Jeremiah Copeland, is in custody.
The body of the Norfolk-based sailor who was found dead in the woods near her base was returned to her family in shocking condition, her mother told the media during an earlier press conference.
The Culinary Specialist, age 21, was discovered by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, after being reported missing May 29 from her barracks in Miller Hall on Naval Station, Norfolk. She was assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer James E. Williams.
Resendiz’s family is asking for further investigation into what they perceive as systemic failures that resulted in a delay from the time she went missing to the time her mother, Esme Castle,was notified of her daughter’s disappearance. Castle also said that her daughter knew her alleged killer and previously reported him to her superiors.
Castle and Tom Goodman, San Benito City Commissioner, who’s coincidentally a member of the church and assisted during Friday’s services, said that Resendiz’s body was returned to the family in “horrible” condition. “She was basically placed in the coffin in a body bag,” Goodman said.
“When they opened the bag for me and I saw her body, you know, she was covered, she was infested with maggots and with bugs, and decaying,” Castle said earlier during a press conference with the heads of LULAC in Washington, DC. “They didn’t preserve her body or prepare her to come home.”
Castle courageously spoke during her daughter’s funeral Friday, saying that she’s drawing strength from her faith and that she genuinely believes that her daughter has transcended this existence and is “sitting alongside the Lord,” further describing her daughter as “a light to those who knew her.”
Bob Farmer, 1st Counselor of the Treasure Hills Bishopric, who presided during the service, recognized several dignitaries and their representatives in attendance, including Ana Garcia, Regional Director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s Office in Harlingen, Patrick Roberts, District Deputy Director for the Office of Representative Monica De La Cruz, Brenda Bossom Watson, representing State Senator Adam Hinojosa, and a representative for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s office as well as several area dignitaries, including Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr., and Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino.
Struggling to hold back tears, an emotional Famer concluded the service by asking public servants to hold themselves accountable to Resendiz’s memory and her family by helping to provide justice and answers to the family, as well as ensuring that similar incidents don’t happen again, adding, “You work for us.”
Resendiz received full military honors, including a 21-gun salute and an honor guard presentation of the American Flag to her mother after the ceremony. The circumstances leading to Resendiz’s death have not been made public.
Castle, who remained remarkably composed throughout the service, was overwhelmed with grief upon being presented with the flag, leaning on Goodman for support while clutching “Old Glory.”
Goodman said that the family “has not been without its challenges,” adding that Castle lost her husband years ago. Still, Castle has been working to improve herself and is pursuing a law degree.
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