Ssgt. Francisco Vega Jr.

Francisco R. "Cisco" Vega, Jr., age 30, active duty U.S. Air Force at Nellis AFB. He was born Nov. 10, 1975, and passed away May 1, 2006. Husband and father to Tracy and Zaccary Vega. Son of Aurea Esther DeLeon and Francisco R Vega, Sr. Cisco attended grade school at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he became very active with the church, serving as an altar boy. His love for sports started early with basketball and then playing football with the Midget Football Chadequion League. His love for sports grew and during high school Cisco lettered in football, basketball and track. During his junior year of high school, Cisco applied and passed the early entry exam to enter the U.S. Air Force. Shortly after his graduation from Dunkirk High School, Cisco started his Air Force career with a trip to boot camp, Aug. 11, 1994. After completing technical school at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as an Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, Airman Basic Vega reported to the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., for his first active duty assignment. From Pope AFB, Cisco was assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Korea. Following Korea, Cisco was assigned to 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base. At Nellis, he held a variety of positions culminating with his responsibilities as A10-A/C weapons load crew chief in the Thunder Aircraft Maintenance Unit. He was a vital member of the "Thunder Weapons Family". While stationed at Nellis AFB, Cisco also retained a job with the Aladdin's V-Theater as head of security and had been recently promoted to V.I.P. maitre'd. Cisco was an outstanding employee and a great friend. His charming personality will be deeply missed by everyone at the V-Theater. To Cisco from Tracy, Zaccary, Mark and KayDee; the bond that we share between us will never be broken. Our two homes have always made one family. You never realized how much your name; smile and larger than life personality traveled through and touched so many different individuals. Through all the changes life and love have brought to you, one thing will always remain the same; we all love you and will truly miss you. Cisco is survived by his wife, Tracy; son, Zaccary; his parents, Francisco and Aurea; grandmother, Efuemia Vega; brothers and sisters, Nanette M. White, Francine R. Levesque, Amanda Vega, Rebecca J. Ruiz, Ann L. Ruiz, Andrea L. Gallo, Jose Cordero, Julio DeLeon II, and Michelle DeLeon; and also by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Preceded in death by his grandparents, Herminio Efigenia Moralez Sr. and Francisco G. Vega. Cisco will be sadly missed by his nieces and nephews, Jessica, Alisha, Rhianna, Olivia, Marcus, Alexia, Elijah, Isabella, Devon, Christina Aubrey, Julio C. III, Natalie, and Nicholas. Services in Memory of Cisco will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Nellis Air Force Base Chapel. Viewing for those wishing to pay their final respects will be from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Cisco will be accompanied by his wife, Tracy, son, Zaccary, and life long friends, Sgt. Dalaunte L. Buchanan, USMC, and MSgt. Mark Johnson, USAF, to his final resting place in Dunkirk, N.Y., Cisco's hometown. Viewing will be from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 12. A Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Full Military Burial presented by the McGuire AFB Honor Guard at St. Joseph Cemetery following the Mass. We will all keep Cisco in our hearts and memories.