Torres Commemorates Memorial Day as I.E. Marks One Year Anniversary of Roman-Martinez Murder

Statement

Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today joined families across the Inland Empire in commemorating Memorial Day. The national holiday to honor fallen servicemembers also marks one year since the disappearance of Army Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez, a twenty-one-year-old Chino native stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, who disappeared while camping with seven other servicemembers in the Outer Banks, and whose remains were found washed ashore a week later.

Congresswoman Torres released the following statement:

"I join families across the Inland Empire today in commemorating Memorial Day," Rep. Norma J. Torres said. "This day is dedicated to the heroes who've laid down their lives on behalf of our nation, and to the Gold Star families who carry on despite the unspeakable pain of loss. As the mother of an Air Force veteran, I know there is nothing more important for our men and women in uniform than to know how much their sacrifice means to the rest of us."

The holiday, which is often marked by backyard barbeques and family gatherings, is more somber for the Inland Empire as a result of the Roman-Martinez anniversary. The seven soldiers who were camping with Enrique Roman-Martinez waited 17 hours to report him missing and expressed concern that he was suicidal. Those concerns were proven unfounded a week later when Roman Martinez's remains washed ashore. Despite an entire year of investigations, Army Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez's murder remains unsolved.

"We celebrate the heroism of those who've made the ultimate sacrifice, but our community also mourns today for the loss of someone who never should have fallen," Torres continued. "Army Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez gave his all to a cause much bigger than himself -- it is utterly unacceptable that in return his life was cut short, and his family was left with only questions and no answers. We commit to leave nobody behind on far-off battlefields, so surely we can do the same for servicemembers right here at home. Until there is justice in this case, our armed services are falling far short of that measure for Specialist Roman-Martinez, his mother, Maria, and his sister, Griselda."

Congresswoman Torres is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and has used her seat to advocate for additional resources for Army investigations as a result of the Roman-Martinez murder case.

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