The third of four brothers, Gabriel Barajas was certified as a Police Explorer at only 15 years of age. He went into the armed forces and trained in Georgia and Texas, then deployed to Iraq for two years. During his tour of duty, he was part of the Special Forces team that captured the dictator. After completing his service in 2004, Gabriel's life was cut short by an accident on the highway. Seven years later, Gabriel's family has a close relationship with the recipient of one of his kidneys, Ernesto Chavez, who will ride the Donate Life float featuring Gabriel's floragraph.

Gabriel's Story

The third of four brothers, Gabriel Barajas enjoyed going to the park, running, and playing marbles, baseball and soccer. His whole family spent lots of time at the park playing one game or another. Since junior high, Gabriel attended the Police Exploration Program. He took his dad with him to authorize the program in Monterey Park. He spent Saturday mornings at the police station, and in 1998 was certified as a Police Explorer at only 15 years of age.

He received his high school diploma the same year as 9/11, then went into the armed forces. He trained in Georgia, then Texas, from where he was deployed to Iraq for two years. One Christmas he came back home and had a premonition that he was going to die.

During his deployment Gabriel would phone his mother often. One evening he called. "Watch the news," he said. "Saddam Hussein was captured, but I can't talk anymore." He had been part of the Special Forces team that captured the dictator.

After completing his service in 2004, Gabriel began study toward a career as a dentist. The day he graduated, he went to work where he had been caring for a sick child. On his way home that evening, got a flat tire and was struck by a car, ultimately dying of his injuries.

Gabriel had his pink dot on his driver's license. Though he had told his mother, she was skeptical and against donation as she thought his body would be mutilated by the recovery. After his oldest brother helped clarify how organ donation works, she approved.

Seven years later, Gabriel's family has a close relationship with the recipient of one of his kidneys, Ernesto Chavez, who will ride the Donate Life float featuring Gabriel's floragraph. "My donor, Gabriel Barajas, is a hero to me," said Ernesto. "He gave me a second chance to live."