It’s a day to honor the fallen, a brave solider who fought and died for this country.
“When they don’t come back that’s when we want to hug them like I hug my son," said Julio Cesar Cisneros.
It’s a fresh wound to many. Julio Cesar Cisneros said he wasn't able to make his own sons funeral U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Julio Cesar Cisneros-Alvarez, who died at age 22 by hostile action in Iraq; fearing immigration would come for him. Starting today, he said, he would no longer be afraid, that’s why he chose to honor the fallen soldier.
"When I saw the news that my son had died, I felt a whole in my heart," said Julio Cesar Cisneros.
Julio Cesar said he remembers that feeling of emptiness, feeling he couldn't go on, it's a feeling that will never go away.
“”I feel empty, a hole in my heart, for a while I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” added Julio Cesar Cisneros.
As the funeral procession rolls closer and the hearse carrying the body of Warrant Officer Jose Luis Montenegro approaches, another father says Montenegro’s death hits close to home.
"It was like yesterday its sad," said Lorenzo Altamirano.
He lost his son he says it’s like it was yesterday. Lorenzo understands the pain Montenegro’s mother is going thru remembering the emotions that overcame him last year; when he buried his own son. The best advice Lorenzo can give to a grieving mother is to stay close to god.
"To keep united and keep praying for each other, taking it a day at a time," said Lorenzo Altamirano.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT