Strength soars amid sadness
Midshipman Duke Carrillo memorialized, buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery
taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated by the acadeAs the American flag was folded over the my. casket, attendees noticed a special guest He is the 10th circling above. A bald eagle soared above Naval Academy midthose mourning Midshipman Duke Carrillo shipman to die since 2012. All received at the Naval Academy Cemetery. military honors at their services and as active
Mourners at the funeral said Carillo — like duty service members, their families rethe bald eagle — symbolized strength. ceived military benefits.
Afternoon classes were canceled Friday Carrillo’s twin brother, Dylan, told the so midshipmen could attend the Catholic congregation he was able to hold Duke’s Mass held in honor of Carrillo and his family hand “as God brought him into heaven.” before he was buried at the academy. “For the first few days, it felt like Duke had
“I thought I would only have to be giving taken half of me with him to Heaven, but this speech at his wedding, but that just then came to the realization that Duke had shows you how fragile life is,” Carrillo’s left a part of him with me,” Carrillo said. “I younger brother, Midshipman Jake Carrillo, will carry both of us through life and I will told the crowd of thousands packed into the live as if tomorrow is my last day.”
Naval Academy Chapel. Duke Carrillo was a native of Flower
The funeral started in the chapel and Mound, Texas. At Flower Mound High moved to the cemetery to lay Carillo to rest. School, he was a three-year varsity letterman
Duke Carrillo, a 21-year-old sophomore, in football and wrestling and captained both collapsed Feb. 8 during the last portion of the teams. He attended the Naval Academy semi-annual physical readiness test. He was Preparatory School in Rhode Island in 2018 before joining the Naval Academy Class of 2022. Majoring in quantitative economics, Carrillo earned high marks including a 4.0 grade-point average in the last semester, according to literature handed out at his services.
“He worked his entire life with a constant goal to serve his country,” according to a memorial pamphlet. “Duke was fiercely loyal with the strength of a giant and the tenderness of a teddy bear.”
Aside from his brothers, Carrillo is survived by his parents Jennifer and Gerald Carrillo.
Bereavement funds are being collected for them through the Alumni Association. Donations can be made at usna.com or by mail to USNA Alumni Association and Foundation, 247 King George St., Annapolis, MD 21402-5068. Donations will be used to support Carrillo’s services in Annapolis. With the remaining money, his family plans to honor him with the Duke Carrillo Preparatory School Scholarship.
But the best way to honor Carrillo, his brothers said, is to hug loved ones tight and enjoy life.
“His motives were clear,” Dylan Carrillo said. “Have a good time, eat great food and make better friends.”