Texas family loses both sons to war (True sacrifice from Texas !)

Yahoo ^

[newfarm4000n]

LUBBOCK, Texas - Less than two years ago, Roy Velez got the worst news a father could get: His oldest son was dead, killed during combat in Iraq.

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This week, his pain only deepened with news that his youngest son had died in Afghanistan.

Military officials notified the Velez family Tuesday of the death of Army Spc. Andrew Velez, 22. His brother, Army Cpl. Jose A. Velez, 23, died in November 2004 in Fallujah when his unit came under fire while clearing an enemy stronghold.

"I can't be angry. I feel like my heart's been pulled out," Roy Velez said Tuesday. "We've done what the Lord allowed us to do for our country."

The family lost its only sons; there is one daughter.

The military does not have a regulation prohibiting the deployment of family members at the same time. But families can request that relatives return home if one is killed or disabled.

After his brother's death, the military gave Andrew Velez the option of not returning to combat, Roy Velez said. But Andrew Velez told his father he wanted to return to fight, his father said.

"You always do it for your buddy next to you," Roy Velez recalled his younger son saying.

Roy Velez last talked to Andrew Velez on the phone Saturday. His son told him he'd had "six close calls" as they tracked Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, and that he was tired.

He was scheduled to return for 10 days of leave during the last week of August. "He said, 'Daddy, I'll see you in August,'" Roy Velez said.

Andrew Velez joined the Army about five years ago. He graduated in 2002 from Estacado High School in Lubbock. During his school years, he wrestled, played football and basketball and ran track. He also loved playing golf.

His older brother, Jose, joined the Army after graduating from the same high school in 2000 and hoped to attend medical school one day. He played football and was an honor student.

After his death, Jose Velez was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and a Silver Star. But burglars stole them all from his parents' home in June.

On Monday, the medals were replaced, thanks to the assistance of U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (news, bio, voting record), Roy Velez said. "And today at 12:30 I learned my other son was killed in action," he said.

Andrew Velez's survivors include his wife, Veronica Velez; a daughter, Jasmine Jade, 5; and two sons, Jordan Davis, 3, and Jacob Andrew, 2.

[newfarm4000n]

May god bless this family.

[jdm]

Sending my prayers as well.

[Thebaddog]

This really is the cost of our freedom. God Bless them all.

[The Old Hoosier]

After his death, Jose Velez was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and a Silver Star. But burglars stole them all from his parents' home in June.

Really, what terrible people there are in this world.

[alienken]

All Texans honor and pray for these great people. It is an Honor to share this state with them.

[newfarm4000n]

Some people just have no conscience.

[dandelion]

This is the Age of Heroes - from the cops and firemen of 9/11 to the warriors of War on Terror;

to the ones left behind. Valor is not found in the trumpets of praise or the sounds of battle, but in the voice of the human heart. God bless these men and women, fighting through these days of darkness in the service of Freedom...

[newfarm4000n]

Well said. Doesn't this family's serenity compare well with Cindy Sheehans opportunism and profiteering ?

[trustandobey]

My prayers go out to this family who have given everything that I might live in freedom. I'll never forget. God Bless America and God bless our troops!

[mosquewatch.com]

"I can't be angry. I feel like my heart's been pulled out,"

I'll be angry for you.

I'm angry that the islamonazi scum murdered your family.

I'm angry that the islamonazi scum ELIMINATED 3000 people in 2.5 hours.

I'm angry that the islamonazi scum murdered school children in Chechnya.

I'm angry, WITH ANGER THAT IS CALLED FOR!! I'm angry because the free world is SICK AND TIRED OF DEALING WITH YOU IDIOTIC INSECTS, THAT BELIEVING KILLING JEWS AND CHRISTIANS AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, GETS THEM 72 VIRGINS!

Every day in my life is September 11th. THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE. GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY, BUT REMEMBER, OUR ANGER IS JUSTIFIED.

[pissant]

May God bless the family many times over, and may these warriors be enjoying the eternal promise of God.

[tioga]

RIP

[Vision]

[newfarm4000n]

These Young men had real dreams and goals which they put aside to fight for freedom- A fact people often forget that makes there sacrifice more so.

[pissant]

They ned to be honored forever, with all the heros of our glorious past and present.

[psjones]

So heartbreaking :-(. I pray for the day when terrorists will be a thing of the past. May God bless the family and give them strength.

[fishergirl]

God bless this family and our soldiers! May God be with them!

[bray]

What an American! Prayers for this family's comfort and strength.

Pray for W and Our Troops
Shalom Israel

[hispanarepublicana]

They're from my hometown. I live here with this amazing family. Please pray. FROM KCBD.COM. 

 

Lubbock Family Copes With Loss of Second Son
 

 

The Velez family is coping with the loss of their second son.  Family members were notified Tuesday that 22-year-old Andrew Velez was killed in action in Afghanistan.  He is the brother of Freddy Velez who was killed in Iraq in 2004.  Freddy was 23-years-old.  Father, Roy Velez tells us it's faith, and knowing his boys are in a better place, that keeps him going.

"I can only tell you that it's not easy.  It has got to be the most horrific thing that I've ever gone through in my life, and maybe the most exciting thing. When your sons get promoted to heaven, what can I say," said Roy Velez.  "I was notified at 12:30 p.m. yesterday (July 25th).  The soldier stepped out, and I looked at him until I got up to the door step, and he said we need to talk to your wife also, and I said it's about Andrew and he says lets go inside, and I said no, I don't want to go inside. I said, is my son dead, and he said yes," continued Roy.

"I feel like somebody has taken chains and just raked them through the inside of me, sir. I feel like I am heartless. I'm not angry anymore. If this was destiny, if this was their plan, then so be it.  Yesterday (July 25th) was a tremendous shock, and it was like somebody just took a sledge hammer and just hit your heart so hard and knocked me into a deep hole, but today (July 26th), I can see that they are together again as brothers.  Their relationship was that of respect and courage and truth and one with out the other wouldn't work, but together now, forever and for eternity, and now it's just my job to get from here to there, and to keep on loving," said Roy.

"I think the only thing that really helps me, that really gets me through this is that somebody out there, somebody in the city of Lubbock, somewhere through our great county is praying me through," added Roy.

That's what Roy and his family ask, to keep his family in prayer.  Roy tells us a good friend of Andrew's is bringing him back to the states.  That will take around seven to ten days.  The family has not set up services yet.  We'll let folks know when they do.

[Doogle]

We're Coming Home Tomorrow

We’re coming home tomorrow
On shining silver wings
I’m coming back to you my love
With all my heart can bring

Let the light glow in the window
Take those ribbons off the trees
I’m coming home tomorrow
And there with you … I’ll always be

I’m lifting off from Baghdad
Like my brothers did before
From Saigon and from Seoul
And all those other distant shores

We didn’t want to go there
But we did it just the same
You ask us all to go there
To defend this home again

I have so many stories
Of the glory and the fame
Of the brothers who served with me
For our country and our name

Now we’re wrapped in blessed blankets
Of the flag from whence we came
We’re Americans and we’re soldiers
And we’re coming home again

David Willson