Army strong. The 2006 Kelvyn Park High School graduate served in Korea and most recently in Iraq, where she drove fuel tankers.

She made her father proud.

"She was the best I have. The light of my family," Juan Velez said of his only daughter. "She was living my dream . . . to be part of the military, part of the United States. To be part of something. Just to give back to the United States because this is where we are from."

She was the best I have. The light of my family," Juan Velez said of his only daughter

I feel that way about my only daughter. I cannot imagine his grief, but I recognize his sacrifice and I am grateful.