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Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Tragedy of war hits Velez family a second time BY JASON WOMACK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Roy Velez does not know how his son was killed in Afghanistan, but he knows that Andrew wasn't scared.
The 22-year-old Army specialist, when asked, told his father he was not frightened.
"If you're asking me if I'm afraid to die for my family, my God and my country, then no," Andrew Velez told his father before deploying to Afghanistan in March. "Every man has to overcome fear and the only way to do that is to meet it face to face."
Roy Velez has now lost two sons to war. Army Spc. Jose "Freddy" Velez, 23, was killed in Iraq in 2004.
"They are all I had," Roy said, sitting at his kitchen table, surrounded by family. "How do I replace their lives?"
No one answers.
Andrew left behind his wife, his family and his three children. He was planning to return to them next month during vacation.
Both soldiers attended Estacado High School. Both played football and both entered the Army to defend their country.
Their father prayed for them every day. He kept a stone in his pocket that carried a soldier's prayer printed across its surface.
"The light of God surrounds us, the love of God enfolds us, the prayer of God protects us, the presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are God is and all is well!"
Months after Freddy died, Roy said that he thought of his sons every time he held the stone.
He squeezed it between his thumb and forefinger in the Estacado High School library in May 2005. The school had just named a scholarship in Freddy's honor.
"The space between my fingers is the distance from me to them," he said of his sons. "It is my lifeline to them."
Roy said Tuesday night that he's done with stones.
"I'm going to throw them away," he said "They didn't do any good."
Although he said he no longer has faith in the stone, he, like his sons, never lost faith in prayer or in his children and their mission.
Andrew Velez always spoke frankly with his father about the war, about each of his six missions, about his sense of duty, and his steadfast belief that he was doing right.
"I'm just doing my job," he told his father. "Daddy, we are leading the way to victory."
Andrew knew the consequences of war. He flew home from Kuwait with his brother's body, escorting him from plane to plane as they made the long trip home to Lubbock where Freddy was laid to rest.
Details about Freddy's death also came to the family slowly.
They were told of how Freddy laid down fire while his fellow soldiers retreated from an enemy ambush and how Freddy saved laves before his was taken.
For his bravery, Freddy was awarded the Silver and Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
The medals were stolen from the Velez family home several weeks ago. The Army replaced them a day before Roy learned of Andrew's death.
Even though he knows nothing of Andrew's death, Roy Velez said that his son is a hero.
"He was just as great a hero as Freddy and all the soldiers," he said.
The family will hold a memorial celebration in honor of Andrew Velez. No plans have been finalized.
http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/072606/loc_072606039.shtml
Prayers for this family.
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God bless your sons, Mr. and Mrs. Velez, and God bless y'all. Thank you for your sacrifices. You raised 2 fine men, patriots, warriors.
Didn't General MacArthur say of his troops:"Where do we get such men."This family has given more for the country than all the Kerrys,Clintons, and Murthas combined.
What grace. Bless this family.
OMG, this so sad, my heart breaks for this Dad.
Please keep those prayers up, everyone.
Thanks for posting. I'll be praying for this family. What a hard thing to face, but how genuine they are in how they face it.
My heart goes out to that family.
T.
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Dear Mr. Velez,
I am praying that your heart be lifted up and your spirit be filled with peace. Amen.
This family is suffering just what all of us who have several family members fear the most.
Unthinkable and incomprehensible that this could happen to one family. My heart goes out to Andrew's parents, his wife and his chidren; I cannot imagine what they must now bear.
Heavenly Father, be gracious unto the Velez family in their time of pain and sorrow.
Very sad. Would be good to post the details of the funeral when they are available, I have a feeling many here will attend.
I saw their dad on TV here yesterday (Thu) and then posted a small note from an AP story on a military thread. It wasn't the right place to post it (happy, celebratory anniversary thread) and they suggested I start a new thread about it.
I searched Velez and some other WOT keywords and nothing came up, so I started a new thread. Again, I'm sorry.
I also made a Light-A-Candle page for them - "Velez Family - Patriots" and sent the link to the Avalanche-Journal so someone might print the messages for the family when they can read them.
Please go here to visit and leave a good word or just light a candle. Thanks.
Oh, no.
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
Rest in Peace
Army Pfc. Andrew Velez
My prayers go up for all who now mourn the passing of Andrew.
Blessings,
trussell
If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.
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