Maria Marin remembers the day seven years ago when soldiers from Fort Huachuca rang her doorbell early in the morning on Aug. 19, 2010. “We just instinctively knew that something was terribly wrong.” The Tucson native says the soldiers told her that her son Martin had been mortally wounded.
Martin Lugo enlisted in the Army while a student at Tucson High School. The Army ranger deployed six times during his six years of service, twice to Iraq and four times to Afghanistan. Lugo was 24 years old when he was killed.
This holiday, Marin asks families to reflect on the sacrifice of those in the military.
“The symbol of the flag that he loved so much is a constant reminder for me that you know what this is a great country” — Maria Marin
Marin says her family honors their fallen soldier every day of the year.
“In our country, I’m so thankful that we have a day that is exclusive for our fallen and our deceased veterans who have served. Men and women throughout the history of country have served so that we citizens who don’t serve can go out and make decisions for our lives to enhance the quality for our families for ourselves to do what we choose to do. That’s what freedom is about. They’re fighting for our freedom. They want the very best life for us. The way we can honor their service is by doing the best we can for ourselves, for each other and for our country.”
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