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Sgt. Cynthia Rivera was a military spouse when her aunt and cousin were killed in the World Trade Center attacks Sept. 11, 2001. Now, eight years later she serves the country she loves and honors the family she lost on that terrible day.
"This is a way to honor my family who died," she said. "I do this for my kids, so they don't have to go through this when they grow up."
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Rivera spent her first 15 years in her native country before moving to the "City of Puerto Rico," Bronx, N.Y. She learned to dance the traditional dances, cook the traditional foods and live the customs and traditions of her home island.
"Puerto Rico is a beautiful Island with a beautiful culture," Rivera said. The culture has a variety of traditional foods and dances like the Bomba Plena dance, pernin [pork shoulder], cokito [coconut milk and rum] and salsa music that she has carried with her throughout her life. She has also carried the importance of family in the Hispanic culture.
"It was hard to leave," she said. "You always have family around. I miss the culture, the food, the dancing and the parties."
That cultural emphasis on family has helped her adapt to the Army. Now a non-commissioned officer in the legal office for 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., Rivera has adopted the Army family.
"Even if we are not blood related we are an Army family" she said. "It is good to learn about new cultures and learn from each other. Raising my children here, I want them to know about this culture's food, clothes and customs."
"I thought the Army was going to be rough," she said. "They push you to become a better Soldier. I like the Army. The Army doesn't make us, we make the Army. Being a single parent in the Army has made me stronger. It has given me discipline. I try to raise my children with the discipline the Army gave me and still maintain the [Puerto Rican] traditions."
Her focus on the Army family has been seen in her work as well.
"She brings a motherly presence to the legal team," said Staff Sgt. Antonelle Jones, Legal non-commisioned officer in charge, 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne). "She cares for the people in her section. She is very sweet, happy motivated and makes us laugh."
Jones said Rivera has even cooked Hispanic meals for everyone in the office. Rivera added that her family nature in the office has a purpose to it.
"It is important we get to know each other," Rivera said. "It is good to know that none of us are doing it by ourselves."
Rivera's example has spread to other members of her family. One of her cousin's is currently a private, also in 18th Fires Brigade.
Unfortunately, the attacks on 9/11 were not the last time she lost loved ones. In 2008 Rivera's fiancé, Sgt. First Class David Nunez, Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team engineer sergeant assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C., was killed in Afghanistan when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his patrol.
She has not let the loss bring her down though. She said she moves forward day-by-day keeping a positive outlook and remembering the lessons her culture and the Army have taught her.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2009 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 40751 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 420 |
| Downloads: | 357 |
This work, Puerto Rican by birth, Soldier at heart, by Jacob McDonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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