Park renamed, dedicated for 'Gunny' Barreras

The park, formerly known as Sunnyside Park, is being dedicated to Barreras, a decorated career soldier who died six months ago of combat wounds suffered in Afghanistan.

The 5 p.m. dedication is at the park, on South Campbell Avenue south of East Drexel Road.

Barreras, 49, died May 13 at San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas after being wounded a week earlier in Herat province when enemy forces attacked his unit. He was buried May 24 at South Lawn Cemetery, 5401 S. Park Ave.

Barreras, who was nicknamed “Gunny” from his time in the Marines, had a military career that included 22 years as an Army Ranger, totaling 31 years of service.

He served in combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was involved in many special missions, including the 2003 rescue of former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso at the time of his death.

A group of fellow soldiers from Fort Bliss is expected to attend the dedication ceremony.

Barreras grew up in Tucson and attended schools in the Sunnyside Unified School District, graduating from Sunnyside High in 1982. He was a son, brother, husband, father of three and grandfather of three.

Marcos E. Moreno, a staff sergeant in the Arizona Army National Guard, worked to have the park renamed. He contacted the district, and the Sunnyside Governing Board voted in May to rename the park, said Mary Veres, a district spokeswoman.

The city has a joint agreement with the district for operation and maintenance, but the park is on district property.

In an earlier interview with the Star, Moreno explained why he wanted to create a lasting tribute to Barreras.

“I did not know him, but it’s one of those things where we’re brothers and sisters by arms, by uniform,” Moreno said.

“I was very moved not only by the sacrifice but the achievements he did — being Latino from the area, a Sunnyside graduate and rising to the rank that he did,” Moreno said.