Gunnery Sergeant Fernando devoted twenty years of his life in service to our country. During his career in the Marines, he participated in tours of duty in Iraq, South Korea and Djibouti. With time, the impact of his physical and mental injuries became unbearable. Fernando retired in late 2024, but had not yet received any disability payments when he reached out to SALUTE, INC. Separated from his wife, but sharing custody and financial responsibility of their two children, Fernando needed assistance with household expenses to tide them over until the VA disability payments were received. SALUTE was able to provide three car payments to keep his car available for school runs, job searches and grocery shopping.
“As a Marine with 20 years of honorable service, I’ve learned the value of perseverance and camaraderie, but sometimes even the strongest among us need a helping hand. Your kindness and dedication to assisting service members like me and my family have left an indelible mark on our lives. Thank you for the work you do to support those you have served our nation. “ GySgt Fernando, USMC (retired)