Photos by Marie Mccolm Proud Military Parents held a sendoff ceremony for Destiny Medina on Saturday, April 30, at the Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park. Destiny Medina stands with friends and family during a Proud Military Parents sendoff ceremony on Saturday at Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park. Monte Vista Councilmember Martha Lock, right, attended the Proud Military Parent sendoff ceremony for Destiny Medina, left, on Saturday at Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park.

MONTE VISTA — Proud Military Parents held a sendoff ceremony for Destiny Medina on Saturday, April 30, at the Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Medina, who is 24 years old and a 2016 graduate of the Alamosa School District, is joining the Army National Guard and will be stationed in Oklahoma.

“I am excited. I am so ready for this challenge. I have been thinking about going for about 5 years now. I am ready,” Medina said.

Proud Military Parents member Kelly Avila read a letter aloud at the ceremony written by recruiter Mario Resendiz.

“Thank you everyone for attending today. I apologize I couldn’t attend today, I had prior commitments with Adams State University,” Avila said. “First, I want to congratulate Destiny for making the selfless choice to serve her community and her country. Only 1 percent of the American population makes this sacrifice. She gets to follow in the footsteps of hundreds and thousands before her, and this continues the legacy.”

The letter stated that Medina first reached out to a recruiter in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. A year and a half later, Medina called again and made the commitment to join and had received her top (MOS) military occupation specialty code choice as a Dental Specialist.

Resendiz also offered tips to Medina in the letter with regard to Medina getting through boot camp.

Avila finished the letter by reading, “Have fun. Not everyone is privileged enough to serve this great nation, and state of Colorado. Again, congratulations. Thank you for allowing me to become your military recruiter and be a part of your career.”

At the ceremony, Medina received a prayer quilt from Women’s Auxiliary member Peggy Martinez.

“Here is a prayer quilt, it has a cross in it,” Martinez said. “You can keep this on your nightstand and say a prayer with it.”

Medina was also given a care package to take with her to Oklahoma.

Jessica Sparks, Medina’s mother, was at the ceremony and with tear-filled eyes said, “I am so proud of Destiny. I am excited for her and scared for her, but I know she will do an amazing job. She’s ready for this challenge. I look forward to seeing how far my girl will go.”

Proud Military Parents held its first local sendoff ceremony in March 2021. The group was formed with the purpose of giving support to local families who have children in the military. The group has held several send offs since the first one in 2021.

For more information on the group, visit their page on Facebook.