Honor a Veteran’s Legacy this National Military Appreciation Month 

At The Mission Continues, veterans are at the heart of everything we do. We proudly honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those who have served – and those who continue to serve – our nation. 

Through the Month of May, on our Virtual Tribute Wall, you can make a lasting impact by dedicating a gift in honor or in memory of a veteran who’s inspired you. With every donation, you help us recognize those who’ve served and continue their legacy of service in communities across the country. 

Donate today to honor a hero in your life – and read on to meet one of our heroes.  

In memory & Honor: Justin Sanabria 

Author: Staff Member, Miguel Vazquez 

When asked to write a story of inspiration, I chose to focus on motivation. I found this organization just like many other veterans: seeking purpose and a way to continue serving our country. One of the driving factors behind this was the survivor’s guilt I carried – and still feel especially after my 10- and 20-year anniversaries of fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. 

I never imagined that, while serving with The Mission Continues, I would face an experience somewhat like those I had during my two deployments to Iraq. That experience was the loss of a comrade while serving others. 

Five years ago this month, as the pandemic raged and social isolation affected everyone’s mental health, we had to find new ways to stay connected. During the lockdowns, methods like phone calls, virtual meetings, and even speaking through open windows or across a street kept people engaged. As an organization, we nearly came to a standstill, and we had to find innovative ways to serve our communities. 

What happened in New York City in 2020 likely took place in many other cities. Teams in NYC mobilized virtually and made old-school phone calls using lists to check in on community members, reminding them they were not forgotten. The Mission Continues mobilized a team to support Mission Vet Check with that same goal as we would always be just a phone call, text, or email away. 

As a newer staff member, I was fortunate enough to use my platoon leader skills to organize a team that would call for two to four hours every Wednesday evening. Calling New Yorkers who didn’t want to hear from strangers made it one of the most enlightening projects I had ever led or volunteered for. Our diverse group of volunteers had one thing in common: we all wanted to help.  The volunteer attrition rate for this project was like a 1980s war movie—very few came back for a second or third time, but I remember one volunteer stayed until almost our last project day. That volunteer was Justin Sanabria, a proud Nuyorican Air Force veteran and post-9/11 servicemember who had recently discovered the organization right before the pandemic. 

He had participated in service projects in his Bronx neighborhood and even ventured out to Brooklyn. He loved how our platoon’s transformed vacant lots into green spaces and mentioned how alive he felt after each project. His service with TMC brought him closer to his daughter, especially when they painted geometric murals together since this was one of their specialties! Justin was a volunteer everyone looked forward to seeing—his positivity was infectious, and he always had something funny or motivating to say on the hottest of New York City afternoons.  I was fortunate to experience serving alongside him all the way from California during a time when many of us felt so distant. 

On the second-to-last project day, I found myself checking in on New York City veterans, trying to reach any brave enough to pick up a phone call from a Los Angeles area code. I had expected Justin to show up, as he had every week, but by the end of the evening, he hadn’t. By the weekend he shot me a text saying he was in the hospital, but thankfully it wasn’t COVID. He joked that he just needed cold medication to feel better. 

A couple of weeks later, I received a call from Justin’s phone, but it wasn’t him on the other line, it was a fellow veteran from his NYC platoon. I was informed that Justin had recently lost his 3-year battle with cancer, and one of his final requests was that his friends apologize to all the organizations he had volunteered with recently, letting them know he wouldn’t be able to attend any more project days. Justin fought hard against his illness, I like many others had no idea he had cancer, and his commitment to service brought him peace as he prepared for what was to come. 

I hadn’t lost a brother or sister in the line of service since my last combat deployment in 2004. Losing a friend like Justin made me realize that serving others in our communities at home is just as meaningful as serving while wearing a uniform overseas.  I remember Justin every day I show up for TMC. I honor him by doing my best to show up to keep this veteran service organization doing what we do best when it comes to improving the lives of veterans and the communities they serve. 

Visit our Virtual Tribute Wall today and make a donation in honor or in memory of a Veteran that’s made an impact in your life.