šÆļø Live for the Fallen
I recently watched a documentary on PBS titled āAmerican Sonsā (Watch here). It was a deeply personal experience for me, as two of my friends from the film community, Laura Varela and Fernando S. Cano II, were involved in the production. The documentary gives an intimate look at the lives of military soldiers who went to Afghanistan, and the result is truly compelling.
The film highlights a sobering reality: not everyone who returns comes back ācomplete.ā Many continue to struggle with the invisible wounds of war and the complexities of everyday life. However, a central theme emerged that deeply moved me: the soldiers who return have a duty to find a way to live that honors the fallen who did not.
Memento Mori: The Presence of Mortality
In Stoic philosophy, there is a powerful concept known as memento moriāthe practice of living with the constant awareness that we could die at any moment.
Nowhere is this more palpable than in the recordings of soldiers in combat. The documentary captures a soldier recounting how every second could be his last. Tragically, for him, that reality came to pass. When we face our mortality so directly, the way we choose to spend our remaining time takes on a sacred importance. We are called to live with purpose, not just for ourselves, but for those whose time was cut short.
Humanity Amidst Conflict
One of the most beautiful takeaways from āAmerican Sonsā was the soldierās refusal to dehumanize the people around him. Despite being in a war zone with a clear enemy, he saw the humanity in the local civilians. He took the time to play with children who spoke a language he didnāt understand, bridging the gap between cultures through simple acts of joy.
It is a reminder that even in our darkest hours, we must resist the urge to see others as āthe other.ā We have to be there for one another. When tragedy strikes, our only true path forward is to come together and lift each other up.
Honoring the Helpers: Alex Pretti
I was reminded of these themes when reflecting on the tragic loss of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. On January 24, 2026, Alex was fatally shot during protests in Minneapolis while he was actively helping and protecting someone who was being assaulted.
Like the soldiers in the documentary, Alex lived a life of service to others. The people of Minneapolis could have responded by shutting down in fear, but instead, they chose to honor his memory by resisting injustice even harder. To ālive for the fallenā means to take up the torch they carried and keep moving toward a better world.
A Celebration of Joy and Heritage
Lifting each other up isnāt only about responding to tragedy; itās also about celebrating the humanity and joy that connect us.
I am deeply proud of my Chicano heritageāan identity that allows me to celebrate both my United States citizenship and my Mexican roots. I was thrilled by the recent Bad Bunny halftime show. While a small minority found reason to complain, 95% of the audience saw it for what it was: a vibrant, beautiful celebration of life, complete with a real-life marriage and an infectious party atmosphere. It showed the world that there is immense beauty in the way we can all come together to share in human joy.
Building a Community of Service in San Antonio
In the spirit of service and community, I want to bring people together to improve our collective understanding of cyber and cloud security right here in San Antonio. Whether we are honoring veterans or protecting our digital future, we rise by lifting others.
I am focusing my energy on two critical non-profit organizations that embody these values:
Cyversity: We are directly tackling the āgreat cyber divideā through scholarships and diverse workforce development. Our programs are specifically designed to help veterans bridge the gap between their military service and a thriving civilian career.
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA): As the worldās leading non-profit for cloud security, we provide the awareness and credentialing needed for AI, Cloud, and Zero Trustāthe essential tools for the future.
Let us live with purpose, celebrate our shared humanity, and always find a way to honor those who paved the way before us.
Would you like to learn more about how to join the local San Antonio chapters of Cyversity or the CSA? Letās connect and build this community together.