Salute to Service - SGT Myrnairis Bones-Cepeda

United States Army

January 2, 1983 – February 2, 2014

Represented by Dont'a Hightower, Jacob Hollister, and Josh Boyer

United States Army Sergeant Myrnairis Bones-Cepeda was born on January 2, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Cathedral High School. Upon graduating, she received a scholarship to Norwich University in Vermont.

Myrnairis, Chiqui, as her mother called her, joined the United States Army in August 2003. She served in the military for over 11 years. Myrnairis completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas where she earned the Military Occupational Specialty of 14T, Patriots System Operator/Maintainer.

Her assignments included, Fort Bliss, Texas with the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense, as a Patriot Missile Launcher Crewmember; Osan Air Base, South Korea with Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense as a Launcher Crewmember; Fort Bliss, Texas with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense as a Launch Crewmember; Kadena Airbase, Japan with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense as a Launcher Section Chief. Myrnairis' most recent assignment was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as a Launcher Air Defense Artillery. Her deployments included tours to Turkey, Libya, and Iraq.

SGT Bones-Cepeda was certified in Basic Life Support and Combat Lifesaver Course. She also completed the Warrior Leader Course, Combative Level I, Unit Prevention Leaders Course, Filed Sanitation Team, HAZMAT, and Unit Armor Training.

Her military awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with two knots, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, and multiple Certificate of Achievements. She also earned the expert Rifle Marksmanship badge.

Myrnairis was a die-hard fan of the New England Patriots and while on overseas deployments, would always call her brothers for updates on the games and scores. She had dreamed of attending a Patriots game in Foxboro at Gillette Stadium. Her favorite players were Dont'a Hightower and Rob Gronkowski. Aside from the Patriots, Myrnairis loved karate, where she earned a black belt and was a three state champion. She also enjoyed playing baseball and was the first girl to be accepted into the boy's baseball league in Puerto Rico.