The San Diego City Council has proclaimed Tuesday to be Sgt. Rafael Peralta Day.
At the San Diego City Council meeting on Tuesday, Peralta’s sister stated, “We are grateful to have the city recognize my brother and to have a special day for him in San Diego, which is our home town.”
The U.S. Marine was killed in combat on November 15, 2004.
Peralta fell on a grenade to protect his fellow Marines during close combat with insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq.
He received the Navy Cross, the military's second highest honor for his actions.
He has also been awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
On Saturday, the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class-guided-missile destroyer will be named after him.
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The ship will be commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island.
USS Peralta will be homeported in San Diego.
Peralta graduated from Morse High School in 1997, and became a U.S. citizen while serving in the Corps.
He was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
