The sister said she's been fighting for years to convince American Legion Post 575 to add Andrew's name to the memorial, but they refuse because he was not killed in action.
Sister wants honor for fallen brother
Posted: June 3, 2010
By Adam D. Young
Brothers Andrew and Jose "Freddy" Velez may both have died in war zones, but how they've been honored couldn't be more different - a reality their sister hopes to change.
It was 2004 when Freddy, then a 23-year-old Army specialist, was shot in the back of the neck by enemy fire while protecting fellow soldiers as they retreated from an enemy stronghold in Fallujah, Iraq.
The Army awarded him with two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and Silver Star for his bravery and posthumously promoted him to corporal.
It's Andrew, who committed suicide as a 22-year-old Army specialist in Afghanistan, who's gone relatively forgotten. Despite being buried next to his brother, the Estacado High graduate has an unmarked tombstone and his name isn't inscribed in the memorial's African granite.
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My name is J. Wayne (Sir Duck) Duckworth and I'm the Commander of American Legion Post 218 in Irving, TX and also the assistant Belladaire of the Nations only traveling Liberty Bell. There is going to be another memorial which I am part of that is going to built in the DFW area and it is going to the largest in Texas to honor all military personnel that has given their lives regardless of the circumstances since 9-11-2001 and I will make sure Andrew Velez name is added. More info you can contact me
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for this!! You know very well that had these men and women not been deployed, the chances of committing suicide would have been a lot lower, since the military is statistically lower compared to the general population. When we are seeing these high numbers of military personnel, it is a clear indication they are directly tied to service in combat, or at least they should be. Thank you for wanting to honor all of their lives. You are a true blessing to them and to the families they have left behind.
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