Veterans Day weekend. This year, I am adding my grandson, who will continue a tradition of our family serving our country. According to my parents, we had a great-uncle who served during WWI. I volunteered twice, the first time I was too young, and my parents would not sign. The second time I applied to be a pilot in the Marine Corps, but was denied.
.Photo of my father and his brother in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Armando and Manuel Barrera
.
.
Uncle Fabian Garcia, Africa and Europe, WWII.
.
Uncle Eduardo Garcia, from Korea, was a tank driver.
.
My brother Joe Barrera volunteered and served with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam.
.
My nephew Joe “Joey” Barrera, Iraq.
.
.My nephew, Marc Barrera, Iraq.
.
.Grandson, Shon Cerrito, whom my wife and I raised, will leave for basic training on the 11th of this month.
.