HOUSTON, Texas (NewsNation Now) — The family and school district of Vanessa Guillén are honoring her life and legacy Wednesday on what would have been her 21st birthday.
Her family is remembering her heavenly birthday with eight public events throughout the day.
There was a virtual run Wednesday morning and a homily early Wednesday afternoon at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home in Houston, along with a dove release.
The family will hold a celebration in the evening featuring a testimonial from her mother, a mariachi band and a butterfly release.
Guillén disappeared from Fort Hood, where she was stationed, on April 22, and Army officials confirmed July 6 that her remains had been found. Investigators said she was bludgeoned to death on base by a fellow soldier, who later killed himself, according to a federal complaint.
Earlier this month, The Houston Independent School District, where Guillén attended school, designated September 30, 2020 as a day in honor of Vanessa Guillén.
Guillén graduated from HISD’s César E. Chávez High School in 2018 before serving in the United States Army.
The school district wrote in a statement, “Guillén’s tragic death has focused a national spotlight on the treatment of women in the military, giving rise to the hope that her loss will be a catalyst for change and equal and fair treatment of all members of society.”
NewsNation affiliate KETK contributed to this report.