Martin Duque

Nicknamed “Junior” by friends and family, Martin Duque loved churchgoing as much as he did soccer and the latest “Star Wars” movie.

A native of Coyuca De Catalan, Mexico, Martin immigrated to the United States at age 8 with his parents, Daisy and Martin Sr., and four brothers.

“Martin should be remembered for being a hero who always talked about God,” brother Alex Duque wrote in the Stoneman Douglas yearbook. “I loved growing up with him and seeing his beautiful smile.”

At Stoneman Douglas, Martin earned a heap of accolades as a JROTC cadet for perfect attendance, good conduct, leadership development. The U.S. Army posthumously awarded him with a Medal of Heroism for acts of heroism in the face of danger.

Martin’s brother, Miguel, who graduated from Stoneman Douglas in 2018, described his brother on Instagram as “a very funny kid, outgoing and sometimes really quiet.” In 2018, Miguel created a GoFundMe that raised $49,543 to handle funeral expenses.

“I shared 14 years with you, left Mexico when we were kids,” Miguel wrote on the social network. “I changed your diapers, I taught you how to walk … you taught me love, to always smile no matter how tough the situation was, to always help others … There are no words to describe the amazing person you are because you will always live in my heart and memory.”