More than 200 people packed Emmanuel Worship Center on Monday morning. The family looked at the service as more of a celebration for the life of a young man who paid the greatest sacrifice for his country.
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than Taps. Veterans who attended the funeral, understand the sacrifice 23-year-old Jose 'Freddy' Velez made for his country. "He paid the greatest price for our freedom than any of us can," said Jimmy Damron, a Vietnam Veteran who attended the service.
"I know a lot of people out there are here because they were in the military at one time or another. It's part of the comradery of being in the military," said Bill Bolstad, another Vietnam Veteran in attendance.
Ernest Galvan drove six hours from the Oklahoma City area to honor this fallen soldier. Galvan was in the army, fought in Vietnam. He had son in the military as well, until his was killed just a couple of months ago. "We saw he was from Lubbock and we felt we needed to come. We felt we needed to pay respects to the family because we know their pain. We feel the same pain," said Galvan.
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