Posted on 07/27/2006 7:45:59 PM PDT by Rte66
I put it in "Announcements" as another FReeper had suggested, but it never showed up.
So, I went back and put in Topics, Foreign (as in the topic where war stuff goes) and Culture (as in Culture/Society) and finally saw it in the sidebar - so maybe more people will see it and bump it up.
Please go here to salute these patriots:
I saw an interview with the father today. It ripped my guts out. He lost the first son in Fallujah and the second in Afghanistan.
Words could not express the remorse.
Bitter misfortune.
If we get a number of candles lit, I'll send the link to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal so they can let the Velez Family know.
The candles stay lit for 48 hours, by the way, and others can re-light them.
I cannot imagine your pain, Velez family. I weep with you in the loss of your precious son, and rejoice with you in the coming Great Gettin' Up Morning.
(I have not served. My tagline honors my son and my cousin.)
I will continue to pray for the Velez family. My heart is grieving for them all and I know many prayer warriors are sending up prayers for them too.
Prayers for this family and for both of their heroes, may they rest in peace. What a price they have paid for all of us... God bless them and comfort them.
Mine, too - so I found the story and posted it on another thread that was a happy, fun thread full of war stories for a FReeper's military anniversary.
It was a little out of place there (altho some were then reminded of buddies they had lost long ago and that was *good*), so I started this thread. Now I'm glad I did and that y'all are noting it.
These parents and these young men and their families and their sister deserve a big salute.
Some kind of problem ....
http://www.klbk13.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=1707
Military Investigating Death of Lubbock Soldier
The family of a fallen soldier received news on Tuesday that their second son was tragically killed while serving in the Middle East.
Roy Velez, whose other son, Freddy, died in November 2004 in Iraq, received the news from a military representative around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday that his other son, Andrew, was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
"I asked him, `It`s about Andrew?`. He said, `Yes, let`s go inside.` I didn`t want to. I told him, `Tell me here. What happened to Andrew?`, and he said Andrew was dead," said Velez.
"I fell to the floor ... he was my baby boy, my last son."
According to the Pentagon, Andrew, an Army Corporal, died on Tuesday, July 25th. The Department of Defense says his death was from a non-combat related gunshot wound.
A spokesperson for Fort Irwin, California, where Velez was based, said they are investigating into the causes of his death. It will take several weeks for the military to determine how Velez died.
The fallen hero`s body returned to the United States on Thursday. Funeral services are still pending, but the family says they will be held sometime next week.
The 22-year-old wanted to serve his country and left in March for Afghanistan. It was his second deployment and he leaves behind a wife and three children.
Both Andrew and Freddy grew up in Lubbock. Both wanted to serve their country and, according to Roy, both brothers died doing what they wanted to do.
Army Specialist Freddy Velez died November 13, 2004 in Iraq, when his unit, part of the 1st Cavalry Division, came under fire in Fallujah. He was 23.
Freddy earned two Purple Hearts, as well as a Bronze and Silver Star.
Roy said he never imagined that he would lose both his sons to war.
"It (feels) like somebody raked the inside of me with clawed nails and tore everything out," he said. "There`s nothing on the inside of me."
Losing both Freddy and Andrew has left Roy beaten and broken and the pain is unbearable.
"I`m not the only parent. I lost both my boys. I can`t call out to them," he said. "I can`t have my boys by my side."
The Velez family says they are taking it one day at a time, and are proud of both his sons. They say, in spite of their loss, they still support the war and our troops. They have received calls and e-mails from across the country, each expressing their condolences and prayers.
University Medical Center is planning a prayer service on Friday at 9 a.m. in the UMC chapel. The hospital has also established a special memorial fund for the family.
Air Date: 7/27/2006
Reporter: Stacia Willson
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