Retired, fallen and active military members are being celebrated at programs and ceremonies across North East ISD on Veterans Day. Students, teachers and staff took time to honor and give thanks to the veterans who have sacrificed so much during their service to our country.
Many of the veterans we pause to honor on Monday, Nov. 11, are now serving the students of NEISD. Chemistry teacher and Air Force veteran Ricardo Mora shared his story with JROTC cadets, faculty members and guests at Johnson High School’s Veterans Day program. Mora was first stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio in 1993. He spent years working as a Dental Technician in the Air Force and was involved in massive humanitarian aid efforts in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where Haitians and Cubans were seeking political asylum.
Joining the Air Force offered Mora so many opportunities but he says the most important was meeting his wife Vanessa, who’s also an Air Force veteran. Like so many other families across the nation, the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, changed everything for the Moras
“We had two kids at home at the time, and I just didn’t want to risk splitting up our family so I got into teaching,” said Mora. “I always knew I wanted to teach, I learned that early on from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base that got me past my fear of speaking in public. So, I served my country a different way by standing by my wife and serving my family.”
Service remains a top priority for Mora, but now he does it in the classroom. He’s been teaching and mentoring Johnson students since 2015. Mora shared a few words of parting wisdom for the JROTC cadets in attendance.
“Cadets, I have seen you perform in the community and you do an outstanding job,” said Mora. “You represent Johnson well. Thank you for your service. If you choose to enter the service, I hope that you feel the sense of honor, community and pride in country that I have.”
Johnson cadets left the ceremony newly motivated and inspired by one of their own.
