Local hero recognized at his alma mater during graduation
A busy day at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. The same day a local hero got recognition at his alma mater, a student from his namesake school graduated. More than 330 students graduated from NPS on Friday, however the big highlight was former P.O.W. and Salinas native Everett Alvarez was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Alvarez was the first American aviator shot down during the Vietnam War. He was held captive for more than eight years before finally being freed. The aviator-turned-attorney has joined an elite group that now has 21 members. This isn’t an honor handed out regularly; the last induction into the Hall of Fame was in 2013.
“It’s an honor because I know a lot of the individuals here,” Everett Alvarez said. “Some of them are personal friends. I am very honored because I know these individuals to be a very elite group. The fact I was inducted just blows me away.”
The induction happened during the school’s commencement ceremony on Friday, with graduates from all over the United States and as far away as Nepal and Uganda.
“They are a mature group,” Alvarez said. “They’ve been in combat. They’ve seen a lot so they bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
Alvarez delivered the keynote speech with this advice to graduates –
“You have a world of opportunity,” Everett said. “Just stick in there and take advantage of it. That’s what I counsel all of them to do.”
One of those graduates listening intently was Francisco Guiterrez-Villareal, a graduate from Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas. He grew up learning all about Alvarez’s past. Even more amazing, both men graduated from Santa Clara University and NPS.
“I’m really glad that you think I’m following in his footsteps,” Guiterrez-Villareal said. “Mr. Alvarez is a great role model and I think he’s a community hero and he’s certainly an American hero and a great inspiration, so I’m really glad I got to meet him today.”
Francisco says he plans to continue working in the cyber-security field with the federal government.
