TUCSON, AZ – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today presented medals to Tucson native and World War II veteran Tony Velasquez Figueroa at his 90th birthday party tomorrow. Mr. Figueroa joined the U.S. Navy following the attack on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He trained at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii before deploying to the Midway Islands to serve as an aircraft mechanic. Rep. Grijalva presented Mr. Figueroa with the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, a Discharge Button and an Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

“I am deeply honored to join Mr. Figueroa on his 90th birthday to present him with the medals he earned in service to our country,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Mr. Figueroa answered the call of duty after Pearl Harbor was attacked, serving as an Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class in the U.S. Navy. He continued to serve our nation and the Tucson community long after the tides of war subsided. Today’s celebration was as much about honoring those sacrifices as it was about celebrating the tremendous milestone of 90 years of age.”

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