Memorial Day A Time To Thank All Soldiers

As the world pauses in reflection on Memorial Day to honor those who have given their all in service to our country, one former serviceman told The Queens Courier of his own personal experiences and of the overwhelming significance of this holiday.
Former Army Sergeant Edward Ortiz is extremely unassuming and humble. A current college student who hopes to become a U.S. Marshall, this 23-year-old Linden Hill resident has seen more, done more, and been more places in four years than most people in a lifetime.
Honorably discharged in August 2004, Ortiz spent four years in the military as an interrogator. In fact, during his service he was in charge of the interrogation team, and as such, traveled to locales that include Korea, Japan, China, Russia, various European countries, and even Iraq.
It seems that Ortiz was pre-destined to serve our country. His father, Thomas, as well as his grandfather and two uncles were in the armed forces.
“I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps,” said Ortiz. “It was also my competitive nature that led me to join.”
Calling military duty a “selfless act,” Ortiz said that it imbued him with a sense of belonging, accomplishment and maturity.
“To me, it’s an act of selfless service,” Ortiz told The Queens Courier. “It shows your family and the world that it’s not an act about yourself, but an act to protect this country and make it better. The experience has molded me into the person I am — a more responsible, dependable and mature adult. I learned what I wouldn’t have learned from a college textbook.”
One of the valuable lessons he learned was also his most memorable experience: that of saving the life of a fellow serviceman during a surprise attack. For his courage in the line of duty, Ortiz was awarded an army commendation medal, with valor. His other accolades include 22 certificates of achievement, another army commendation medal, and 9 army achievement medals.
Ortiz also told of how the job — which is “24 hours a day, seven days a week” — is one that extends into all aspects of life.
“You make lasting friendships,” he said. “You also develop respect for the people in uniform you don’t even know. When you meet him or her, you want to thank him for what he’s done because you’ve done it and you understand what he’s going through.”
So what does Memorial Day mean to Ortiz and the hundreds of thousands of others who have served the country?
“For a lot of people post 9/11, they are understanding what we do — as soldiers, cops, firemen, community workers,” said Ortiz. “Pre 9/11, it didn’t really matter. It was just a way of life. A lot of times people don’t see this until a tragedy occurs, and then there is more of an appreciation from the general public, which is a beautiful thing. Memorial Day is a time to remember that there are people out there to protect this country.”