STOCKTON — For Dianne Valverde and her family, Memorial Day is more than just a holiday; it's a day of deep personal significance. Sixty years ago, her brother Rafael Cruz, a dedicated Air Force serviceman, was reported missing after his plane was shot down over Cambodia during the Vietnam War. This Memorial Day, the Valverde family gathered to remember him and his ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Dianne still possesses the telegram dated 1963, the piece of paper that altered her family's life forever. "I said, 'Oh, momma. This means he went down and they don't know,'" Valverde recalled, describing the moment they received the devastating news. For over three decades, the whereabouts of Cruz remained a mystery, leaving his family in agonizing uncertainty.
Cruz, who had been serving in the Air Force for 17 years, had once reassured his sister about his decision to fight overseas. "'Why do you want to go? You don't have to. You have a family.' He said, 'Sis, if there's going to be a war, I'd rather it be there,'" were Cruz's last words to Valverde.
The long-awaited answers came when someone in Cambodia discovered human remains that turned out to be Cruz's and part of his crew. "They had been laying there so long that sediment was coming on the bones. And for my brother, they had to do DNA," said Valverde.
Finally, Cruz was brought back to the United States and laid to rest in Arlington, Texas, alongside his crew. Valverde was present at his burial, a moment she describes as unforgettable. "Until the day I die, you don't forget that he made the sacrifice for his country and his children," she stated, reflecting on the profound impact of her brother's service and loss.
Cruz left behind a wife and five children, and his legacy of service continues with Valverde's two granddaughters, who are active service members. Through her enduring grief, Valverde hopes that future generations will remember her brother and all those who have given their lives for freedom. "We don't realize what Memorial Day is symbolizing," she added. "Someone gave their life out there so we could be here enjoying our day."
As the community of Stockton commemorates Memorial Day, stories like that of Rafael Cruz remind us of the true cost of freedom and the importance of honoring those who have paid the ultimate price.
