Emotional reunion as US war veteran attends high school graduation for Kurdish woman he saved during Iraq War
Lava Barwawi is now 18 and living in Georgia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There are few things more touching than reunions – when two lives, connected by something truly special, collide after an extended time apart.
That’s exactly what happened to Iraqi Kurdish-born Lava Barwari and US war veteran Lieutenant Colonel Greg Pepin recently.
The two were brought back together for an emotional reunion after a remarkable act of kindness and quick-thinking by the former soldier.
As a baby, Barwari and her mother were caught up in Saddam Hussein’s brutal Iraqi regime and were in horrific danger – but what Pepin did for her meant she managed to escape.
Barwawi is now 18 and living in Georgia, US. Her mother sent Pepin an email to invite him to her high school graduation, having not seen the war hero in many years.
See the touching reunion here and find out how Pepin saved her life:
It's not the only significant moment at a US graduation ceremony this month.
Earlier in May a girl called Emma Sulkowicz carried her dorm room mattress in protest of her school’s failure to expel her alleged rapist. The incident reportedly took place in 2012.
While celebrating her graduation at Colombia University in New York, Miss Sulkwicz, a visual arts senior, was met with rousing applause by fellow students as she carried the mattress across the stage.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments