Staff Sergeant Ralph A. Morales, a graduate of Florida International University who currently serves as the Unit Administrator for the 13th Army Band, Florida National Guard, was the guest speaker at Hialeah Gardens High School's yearly 9-11 ceremony. SSG Morales spoke to the students about the importance of education, opportunities available, and what it means to be an American, emphasizing that we must never forget the sacrifices others have made to maintain our freedom. SSG Morales served in various part-time positions in the Army from 1994 until 2009, when he volunteered to deploy to Kuwait and Iraq with the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of the 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, where he