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I grew up as a proud military child. My father served in the United States Air Force for 24 years and retired in 2016 as a Master Sergeant. During his active duty service, he completed multiple deployments, and our family had the opportunity to live in both Germany and Las Vegas. Those experiences shaped my understanding of the sacrifices and resilience that come with military life. I am incredibly proud of the work he did during his career, especially his involvement in the development and advancement of unmanned aircrafts. After retiring from active duty, he continued supporting our military as a contractor and civilian employee.

My connection to the military continues through my mother as well. She has worked for the Air Force as a civilian for almost 30 years and currently serves as a financial manager for the military. Watching both of my parents dedicate their careers to supporting our military has given me a deep respect for the military community, and I am incredibly proud of the work they have done and continue to do in service to our country.

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My youngest son graduated from ASU Prep Digital. He went on to ASU through the ROTC program to become an officer in the US Air Force. He is currently serving overseas in Special Operations.

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Jinna Torres - Special Education Teacher

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Jinna Torres - Special Education Teacher

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Military service is the thread that runs through my family’s history. I served in the Air Force on Active Duty before transitioning to my current career as a special education teacher, but the commitment to country extends far beyond my own uniform. My husband served in the Air Force for 13 years before joining the Army last year, my twin sister dedicated 10 years to the Army, and my brother-in-law served 12 years of Active Duty in the Air Force. My brother is also currently serving on Active Duty in the Navy.

In our family, service isn't just a choice; it's a legacy. Every eligible, able-bodied person in our family has served, going back through the generations. To me, this means a selfless devotion to others and a promise to defend the Constitution by any means necessary. One day, I hope my sons continue this tradition and serve as well. We work in this house!"

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Service to our country runs deep in my family. My father served in World War II and the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart before retiring from the U.S. Air Force. My brother, Johnny, served in the Army, my husband, Dan, served in the Marine Corps, and I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force.

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My stepfather joined the United States army in the early 1960s after Fidel Castro took over the Cuban government. He was a student at Boston College at the time. He fought in the Bay of Pigs invasion and is a proud veteran.

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Carl Craig Cummins, Jr. – U.S. Army & Army Reserves (Colonel, 42 Years of Service)

I am connected to the military through my father, Carl Craig Cummins, Jr., who served in the United States Army and Army Reserves for 42 years, retiring as a Colonel.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are spending summers in Reno while he taught on base. To us, it felt like an adventure — new places, new people — but now I understand it was part of something much bigger. He wasn’t just serving; he was leading, mentoring, and investing in the lives of other service members.

At his funeral, a man approached me and said my dad had changed the trajectory of his life. He told me that when he was struggling early in his military career, my dad took the time to see him, guide him, and believe in him. That encouragement shifted his confidence and direction — and ultimately changed the course of his future.

That was my dad. He showed up. He paid attention. He led with humility and strength.

To him, military service meant responsibility, sacrifice, and honoring something greater than yourself. He didn’t talk much about his accomplishments — and there were many — but he lived them daily.

I am deeply proud to be his daughter and grateful for the example he set: steady leadership, quiet strength, and a lifelong commitment to serving others.

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My father enlisted in the United States army after arriving in the US as a political refugee from Cuba in the early 1960s. He wanted to help fight communism in Cuba and beyond. He died in an accident at age 29.

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My husband is a Marine Corps veteran who served as a Staff Sergeant. We met in college just a few months before he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2005. This photo is from a Marine Corps Ball after he returned from deployment.