Andrew Velez Obituary

Its been years but its still hard to take in that youre gone. I always think about you brother. Miss you.

I saved the article and photo that I first saw years ago of Mr & Mrs Velez after Andrew died. I use it as a reminder to pray for you all.

Again I thank you for your sons service to our country and pray the Lord continues to comfort you.

Andrew, I may have not known you but I through the love and strength of your sister Monica, I have grown to know what a wonderful person you are. You are always thought of. I think of your family and it has been a blessing to have them in my life.
RIP Warrior

Im always thinking of you Spc. Andrew velez<3 Even tho I may have not known you I still know your sister and she's an amazing person! You should be glad of the woman she is now! Love you guys<3

I continue to pray for the Velez family and can only imagine how difficult anniversaries are.

May the Lord comfort you.

July 25, 2012
To the family and friends of Spc. Andrew Velez:
Always remembering Andrew. "Some gave all."

I often think of the Velez family and pray for you. May the Lord continue to comfort you.

July 25, 2011
To the family and friends of Spc. Andrew Velez:
Please accept my remembrance of Andrew on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.

To the family and friends of Spc. Andrew Velez:
Remembering Andrew on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Velez,

I think of you often and pray for you. I will never forget seeing the heart breaking photo of you holding your sons photos.

My son finishes his 4 years with the Army Rangers this month and my joy over his completion is tempered by the thoughts of many parents whose sons are not returning home.

Thank-you for your sons service to our country. I know you were so proud of them. May the Lord comfort you.

I will continue to pray for you.

To the family of Spc. Andrew Velez:
Andrew gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,450 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Kenna

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.


The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”


I did not know Andrew, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !

I have been signing guestbooks day by day since later March.
If I had not read the messages previously entered, I would never know that you have lost 2 sons. Dear Lord... be with you.
I am going now to sign your Jose's book.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Other Side

i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.

can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.

i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side

the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)

“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008


The Other Side –
(To hear the song)
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol



Sincerely,

Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom SSgt Vince – Lackland AFB
Proud Air Force MIL SrA Dana – Randolph AFB

Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b

.

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Spc Velez!

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Vela,

I still have the article and photo about your losing 2 sons. I can only imagine the pain and heartache you've gone through. When you come to mind I continue to pray that the Lord will comfort you. He knows your pain.

Thank-you for raising 2 wonderful sons who were willing to serve our country. May God bless you.

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Spc Velez and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

Yes this is to the love ones of Andrew Velez my heart goes out to you Roy Velez and Carmen Velez I cant find the words to express the way I feel About this tragedy to be honest It still hasnt sunk in yet but I just wanted to let you know that your in prayers and God bless

“Soldier”
Written to Honor the Service of Our Fallen Soldiers

Soldiers write history, we pay the price
Many miles distant, you live the life
Entered the Battle of our own free will
Out of Duty for Country, and we’d do it still

We hope and pray that all will find peace
In God, in the flag, in memories of valor
Gone now, our pride and courage you see
“An Army of One” our motto forever

Willing to risk all for love of our Brothers
We’re still Your Soldiers…and we showed the way
Our Lives too short, now pray for the others
Lived free died Heroes in lands far away

Deep within souls all cherished our Service
We’ll always have what some never know
Courage and Honor, our names forever
Lived life with purpose…just our time to go

We march in the Heavens with Honor and Glory
Missions accomplished we fought the Good Fight
Many years from now…we’ll tell the full story
Until that Day we will live in the Light

Our lives we laid down in a land far away
Still watching o’er you this night and by day
No need to talk…just know we are with you
There in your hearts and we hear what you pray

Yes we are your soldiers
Our lives we laid down
Still We guard o’er you
Still Duty bound

Entered the Battle of our own free will
Out of Duty for Country, and we’d do it still
We’ll always have what some never know
Lived life with purpose…it was our time to go

I am so sorry for this loss. May he rest in peace. Never to be forgotten. Bless you all.

My heartfelt sympathy to the Velez family in the loss of Andrew. I did not know Andrew, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. Andrew you are my hero and you will NEVER be forgotten.

I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.

Love and Peace

Tom



To live in the hearts

of those you leave behind

is never to die"

~Robert Orr~

Military Parents

Velez Family,
My deepest sympathy goes out to you. I didn't know Andrew, but I've heard a lot about him from my husband who was a good friend of his since Fort Irwin and was stationed together in Afghanistan. When my husband told me what had happened, I was very saddend because he had left behind a wife and little children. I wanted to share a photograph that my husband sent me of the guys in Afghanistan. I hope it brings a smile to your face and harmth in your heart to see that no matter how far he was, he was loved. God Bless You All

To the Velez family,

I did not know either of your sons but I am grateful for their service to our country. They are now guarding the gates of Heaven. Please know that you are in our prayers at this time.

Please accept our condolences for your loss. You will be in our prayers, that the Lord provide you comfort and peace. God Bless.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES FOR YOUR GREAT LOSS. KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO DO CARE. HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR TREASURED MEMORIES THAT HIS SPECIAL SMILE MAY CONTINUE TO SHINE ON. I PRAY THAT PEACE WILL FIND YOU ALL SOMEDAY. GODSPEED AND SEMPER FI.



A PROUD MARINE MOM

I am deeply saddened by the loss of this young Hero.

May God's Loving Grace and comfort be with you.

Please Know Spc. Andrew Velez will never be forgotten.

From the sister of a Fallen Hero, in Vietnam, many years ago.



Those we love remain with us,

for love itself lives on...

And cherished memories never fade,

Because a loved one's gone....

Those we love can never be,

more than a thought apart....

For as long as there is memory,

They'll live on in the heart.