Veronica’s Hero

Veronica Ortiz Rivera’s worst nightmare came true Nov. 16, 2010, when her doorbell rang at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Three men were standing outside: two U.S. Marines and one man wearing a U.S. Navy uniform. At first, she didn’t know why they were there, but reality set in when one of them said, “We need to speak with you regarding your husband. May we come inside?” In this heartfelt story about grief, family, and appreciating our nation’s heroes, she recalls hearing the devastating news that her husband, Javier Ortiz Rivera, had been killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device—and how she broke the news to her children. She also celebrates the memory of her husband, their love, and how her family stuck together during the most difficult of times. Drawing on their faith, they continue to honor their hero through how they live their lives. They are not alone.