Peter Wang Was A High School Hero

Richard Lui mentioned him in his new book

A young man worthy of recognition

Richard Lui is a friend of mine who is an American journalist and a television anchor for MSNBC. He has previously worked for CNN. He is an American of Chinese descent who has a new book out. The title is: Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness.

Although I have just recently gotten the book and have only read the beginning chapters so far, I can recommend it highly.

Richard talks about his parents and their struggles. He also mentions other people who have made a difference with their selflessness. One person about whom Richard wrote is an American hero who was a high school student when he lost his life. His name is Peter Wang. He was a young man who made a difference when he helped others. His story is well worth sharing.

Wang was a fifteen-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where the deadliest school shooting in the United States occurred. Seventeen victims died that day. Wang was among them.

He was an Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadet. His hope and dream was to someday attend West Point.

On the day of the shooting at the Florida school, Wang stood by a door and helped his fellow students escape. He was wearing his JROTC uniform at the time. As he held the door for others, he was shot. He gave his life so that others might live.

Officials at West Point decided to admit Wang posthumously. Their letter read: “It was an appropriate way for USMA to honor this brave young man. West Point has given posthumous offers of admission in very rare instances for those candidates or potential candidate’s (sic) whose actions exemplified the tenets of Duty, Honor and Country.”

Wang would have been in the Class of 2025, a West Point spokesman said.

The letter was hand-delivered to Wang’s parents by a uniformed Army officer at the funeral home in Coral Springs, Florida, where a funeral was held for Wang.

Wang’s efforts allowed dozens of his classmates, teachers, and staffers to escape. He lost his life that day, but he became an American hero. He was unselfish when he put the lives of others before his own.

Richard Lui’s book talks about everyday heroes who were ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve the world. They did selfless acts of kindness instead of being selfish.

Life is better with people who are willing to help others. Love and caring are needed.

[Source: Enough About Me by Richard Lui, NBC News]