What's Inside - Channelview Independent School District

12
Aguirre
Continued from page 6
On February 26, 2007, Anthony and
his fellow Marines were conducting a
routine sweep of their patrol area, when
he took a footstep onto an IED. Knowing
that releasing his foot would set off the
explosive device, he waited until all of his
Marine brothers had passed out of harm’s
way before removing his foot from the
device. By giving the ultimate sacrifice, he
saved 25 of his fellow Marines that day.
Construction of the school is being
funded as part of a $111 million bond
package approved by voters in November
2009. The district’s Board of Trustees
unanimously approved naming the
school in honor of Aguirre last year.
A sister’s love
Anthony and his sister, Christina
Castillo, were closely knit growing
up. “He was my little brother and I
took care of him,” she recalls. “He
was always so happy and always
had a big smile on his face.”
At the age of three, Castillo remembers
Anthony finding a small brown jacket
with a Marine emblem. “It was his prized
possession,” she said. “From that day
forward all he talked about was becoming
a Marine. His dream was to serve his
country…and he did, very valiantly.”
Not long after Aguirre’s death, Castillo
and her family attended a memorial service
for fallen Marines in Hawaii. While there,
she met one of the men that served with
Anthony. “As he was holding his newborn
baby in his arms, the man said, ‘it’s
because of your brother that I am here and
that I am able to be holding my newborn
daughter…he unselfishly gave his life for
myself and 25 other Marines..’ Castillo
continued by saying, “It was Anthony’s
sole purpose to be a Marine. He was put
there that day to save his Marine brothers.
He was always thinking of others.”
And it was that ultimate act
of bravery that posthumously
earned him the Purple Heart.
‘A great kid’
Channelview ISD Superintendent
Greg Ollis has fond memories of
Anthony. He was Aguirre’s principal
at Hamblen Elementary in the mid-
1990s and followed his success all
through high school and beyond.
Much like Aguirre’s sister recalled,
Ollis remembers Anthony’s trademark
grin. “He was such a great kid,” Ollis
said. “He was very well-mannered and
very focused about what he wanted to
do in life. Even in elementary school, he
talked about serving his country – and
he continued to stay on that path.”
Shortly before Aguirre’s passing,
the hometown Marine stopped by
Channelview High School while he was on
leave to visit some of his former teachers.
“I happened to be (at the high school)
that day and we spotted each other right
away…and he still had that same grin
on his face,” Ollis said. “We hugged
and he told me about everything that
was going on in his life and how he
was going back to Iraq in a few days.
He said he was living his dream.”
As the two said “so long,” Ollis
left Aguirre with three brief words.
“Take care, Anthony.”
More than bricks and mortar
When August 2012 approaches on
the school calendar, students will walk
through the doors of Lance Cpl. Anthony
Aguirre Junior High for the first time.
Castillo sees the school as a lasting tribute
and an inspiration to other young people.
“These students and those after
them will know the story of my brother
and the sacrifice he gave,” she said.
“They will also know about the type
of person he was and hopefully that
will inspire those students to follow
their dreams – just as my brother did.
“He loved this community and
we all miss him terribly, but I know
he’s looking down on us smiling.”
With his same wellknown
grin, no doubt.
Channelview Independent School District
1403 Sheldon Road
Channelview, TX 77530
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Channelview, TX
PERMIT NO. 027
The Channelview Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national
origin, sex, or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs,
in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments
of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitational Act of 1973, as amended. If you feel that your child has
received discriminatory treatment, you should first attempt to resolve the problem with the teacher involved.
The following staff members have been designated to handle specific complaints and to coordinate compliance
with these requirements.
Title IX Coordinator and Liaison for Homeless Children and Youths: Robert Worthy (281) 452-8010
Section 504 Coordinator: Gloria Roach (281) 452-8006
Phone: (281) 452-8002 | Fax: (281) 457-9073 | www.channelview.isd.esc4.net