UNLV fallen hero remembered

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 22, 2003 | 9:26 a.m.

A former member of the Army ROTC program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was honored posthumously during commencement ceremonies Saturday.

Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, class of 1982, who was killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack at the Pentagon, had a memorial plaque presented in her memory.

Army Maj. Ross Bryant, detachment commander, presented the plaque to UNLV President Carol Harter, saying that its purpose was, "so we can all never forget her sacrifice."

"I never had the privilege of serving with Lt. Col. Wagner," Bryant said, "but as a career Army officer and because of our identical chosen professions, I know some things about her."

Wagner, a 19-year veteran of the medical service corps, had sacrificed much to attain her position in the nation's capital, Bryant said.

"She had to have high integrity, strong moral character and she clearly served proudly for an Army she must have loved. Last year, at the one-year anniversary of the 9-11 attack, the cadets of the UNLV Army ROTC department conducted a sunrise service in her memory. We will never forget Lt. Col. Wagner," he said.

The plaque is in the shape of the Pentagon, and a granite stone from the collapsed Pentagon wall is affixed along with the Army crest to symbolize her service to country. Her photograph is on the brass plaque, with an inscription that reads, "Freedom is not free. In memory of Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, UNLV graduate 1982, killed while serving her country during the 9-11 Pentagon attack."

Cadets graduate

Andrea Martinez, Rancho High School class of 1996 and daughter of Bertha Saldivar and Daniel Macias of Las Vegas, was awarded her bachelor of arts degree and commission as a second lieutenant in the Army during ceremonies at UNLV.

Martinez, a Spanish language major, was one of three UNLV Army ROTC cadets to graduate and also be pinned with gold bars as new Army officers. Others were Chris Coles, a criminal justice major from Bozeman, Mont., and Jaspen Stevenson, a sociology major from Chicago.

A fourth cadet, psychology major Ryan Gladding of Reno, also graduated and will be commissioned in August following summer training with the Army.

In brief

Martinez was a four-year member of the Navy Junior ROTC program at Clark.

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