Honoring My Family's Veterans

When I add up all the years the veterans in my family have served, I come up with 147. All of the men in my mother's family have served (her father and five brothers), and all of the sons in my father's family have served, except for one (Enrique), who died before he got the chance, at age 18. Wow. That's pretty amazing.

So here's to my family's veterans. I thank them for their courage, bravery, and service. May those who have died rest in peace, and God rest their souls.

Jaime Rivera (my father) -- United States Navy Retired, Lieutenant Commander, 21 years

Sabino Carrejo (my mother's father) -- Army, 23 years
Fernando Gomez (my mother's brother) -- Air Force, 20 years (including Korean Conflict)
Sabino Carrejo (my mother's brother) -- Air Force, 4 years
Francisco Carrejo (my mother's brother) -- Army, 2 years
Juan Carrejo (my mother's brother) -- Air Force, 4 years (including Vietnam War)
Luis Carrejo (my mother's brother) -- Air Force, 4 years

Francisco Rivera (my father's brother) -- Army Paratroopers, 4 years
Benjamin Rivera (my father's brother) -- Air Force, 20 years (including Korean Conflict)
Rosendo Rivera (my father's brother) -- Army, 2 years

David Carreira (my mother's sister's husband) -- Army, 22 years (including 3 times in Vietnam War)
Antonio Nevarez (my father's sister's husband) -- Navy, 20 years

Lucia Furr (my mother's sister's daughter) -- Army, 1 year (including the War in Iraq, for which she leaves on Monday, November 14th)