The day that I decided I wanted to live, I went back to school, made straight As, graduated at the top of my class, on the National Honor Society, became the first person in my family on either side, to graduate from college.

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Baldwin, 52, was first captain of the class of 1969, the same honor bestowed on Douglas MacArthur and John J.

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Last month, I was privileged to present the parents of an American soldier, Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, with our nation's highest decoration for valor -- the Medal of Honor.

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"As the daughter of parents who worked in factories, paid their union dues and achieved their goal of a middle class life, and as the first Latina to head a major federal agency, it has been an incredible honor to serve, " she wrote.

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