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
This page gives a link to an e-mail for those wishing to send condolences to the family.
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=5206393&nav=3w6y
My prayers are with the family of these two brave young men.