Amber Rodriguez
When Amber was 11 years old, her father, a military veteran, committed suicide. She struggled with the loss for years until she attended our healing retreat, where she found hope and a supportive community that changed her life forever.
Mom, brother, and Amber at Disney 2023
A Father And Daughter Forever Bonded Through Art
For Amber Rodriguez, her childhood memories play against a backdrop of art. With her father, they shared a deep love of music. “Much of my childhood joy came from music always blasting in our family home, mainly because of my dad. Music became a diary of our lives. My dad and I bonded over songs. I loved playing Rock Band with him or singing along to his favorite bands. I remember seeing him sitting at the table, nodding to the beat, his hair gel still shining even after a long day at work.”
“I Told Myself I Had To Be The One To Hold Our Family Together”
On a rainy day in April 2014, Amber’s father committed suicide.
“I was only 11, and my brother was 4. I told myself that I didn’t have time to grieve—I had to play the role of father, mother, and sister to my little brother. I had to be the one to hold our family together.”
Amber worked hard to deny her grief, but soon she found herself acting out in destructive ways. “I was angry that I didn’t have my father as my protector when my boyfriends touched me without my consent. I thought those traumas defined my world. I thought that was all I deserved.”
Finding Passion Through Tragedy
After years of struggling to process her pain, Amber’s life changed when she picked up a camera.
“I tried to capture the beauty in the world around me that I couldn’t find within myself. Photography became my first step toward healing and finding my grounding. It led me to join both the yearbook and magazine staff during my senior year of high school.”
That same year, Amber became involved with the Gary Sinise Foundation.
“In 2019, I attended the Gary Sinise Foundation’s annual event in December as a child of a fallen soldier. My journalism teacher encouraged me to write about the experience and publish it in the school magazine.”
"For The First Time, I Felt Love And Belonging"
Amber wasn’t sure what to expect when she attended our curated healing retreat for America’s families of the fallen. She was overjoyed to realize there were others who understood her journey. “For the first time in years, I felt love and belonging because it didn’t matter how he died. What mattered was that his life could be both celebrated and grieved.”
For Amber, the most powerful moment came when visiting the Remembrance Garden, where hundreds of American flags are placed to represent each family’s fallen loved one. “When I saw my father’s tag on a flag, it was the first time I felt welcomed in a community after losing him. It was bittersweet—I was sharing my pain with hundreds of other families experiencing the same hurt, but I also realized I was no longer alone.”
Sharing Her Story With The World
When Amber returned home, she was inspired to share her story with even more people. She started working on the article her journalism teacher suggested she write. “Writing about my loss after coming home from the event helped me take control of my own story. It brought me a sense of purpose.”
Amber’s article became more than just a story—it started an entire conversation in the school’s newsroom with others contributing their own articles. “Our February magazine issue explored the realities of military life: teenagers enlisting for educational benefits, long deployments, and soldiers struggling with post-traumatic stress.”
For the magazine’s cover, Amber wanted to find a meaningful photo to represent her father. When she saw his military issued duffel bag, she knew she had found the perfect subject. “It had ripped masking tape around the handles and his initials scribbled in Sharpie, slowly fading away."
After attending our event, sharing her story, and finding strength through her new community, Amber saw for the first time a way to honor her father’s memory through her art. Seeing that photo on the magazine’s cover was the culmination of her growth and healing.
“I felt the physical and mental weight lift off me.”
Honoring Her Father’s Sacrifice By Becoming The Best Version Of Herself
Amber is on track to earn her bachelor’s degree in journalism. She credits the Gary Sinise Foundation for showing her the path forward after tragedy.
“The Gary Sinise Foundation was part of saving my life. You reminded me that I’m not alone and that I can be successful as a young adult. My mom, my brother, and I are a team. I believe we have a stronger bond now more than ever, thanks to the work of this beautiful Foundation. We’re still here, making steps to grow with our grief rather than leaving the unspoken hurt behind.”
You Can Give Comfort To The Children of Fallen Heroes Like Amber
Through your gracious generosity, we are able to provide America’s families of fallen heroes curated support and healing opportunities that are life-changing. After experiencing such devastating loss, it is our honor to stand beside them and offer comfort, reminding them as a nation we will never forget their sacrifices.
“I am here today, alive, happy, and healthy, because I found my voice. And I’m carrying the voice of Tech Sergeant Arthur Rodriguez Jr., guided by the Gary Sinise Foundation, to honor my loved one and become the best version of myself.”
Join us. Make your donation today.
