To My Parents
My name is David Anthony and I have a son with the same name.
I was born with blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a very long lazy tongue. I was put in speech therapy in the early years to learn to speak like everybody else in the household. My parents spent a lot of money on therapy and I know they sacrificed in order to make this happen.
I also was born with a foot problem. I was once called “Wandering Foot”, 1 would wander from any campsite at any given moment to explore what nature had to offer.
My brother Manny and I were self-sufficient young entrepreneurs. Once while in Oxnard, California on a family vacation spending time with our “California cousins”, we were exploring the neighborhood when we were accosted by the bullies of that area. I ran back to our uncle’s house, I grabbed a knife to protect my brother and was stopped by Uncle Noni when he saw what I was doing. By the time we had arrived my brother had taken a very horrible beating. At the time of this incident, my father had been trying to back up the trailer in a very small place and had to physically push the trailer by hand by himself and threw his back out. He could not move the rest of the trip. I saw my brother and father both in pain that hurt me tremendously. Manny and I became very close brothers that day.
Soon after that, it was time to go to war. I went to Vietnam and flew many missions as a co-pilot in order to keep any more brothers from being infected by the disease of this “police action”. I served so the others wouldn’t have to.
While in Vietnam I learned to make jewelry just like my grandfather. When I got out of the service 1 was employed by the Postal Service just like my dad. Later I fulfilled a childhood dream and became a Police Officer.
I regret not getting to know our younger siblings better, however, I take pride in knowing that all the Herrera men served their country.
I thank you mom and dad for always being there for me.
David