Family | Features

Families Who Serve
By GINNY POARCH, Opinions Editor

      Freshman Elizabeth Leach is the only child of a single parent, her mom, Joy Cassie-Leach, an E6 in the U. S. Navy and is currently serving her 18^th year in the service in El Salvador for six months before returning home. While her mother is away Elizabeth’s grandmother moves in to take care of her. Elizabeth is grateful she has her grandmother and cousin to keep her company but misses her mom greatly. Elizabeth and her mom share a close relationship and after Elizabeth’s dad died they were there to comfort each other trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. When Ms. Cassie-Leach is home she and Elizabeth spend a lot of time together.
      “We do everything together,” says Elizabeth. “I don’t mind my mom hanging out with me at all. I love her.”
      This year Elizabeth will be unable to fulfill the tradition of taking her mom out to eat on her birthday, two days before Christmas, and decorating the tree and house together. This year, there will be no birthday dinner before Christmas and she will decorate the tree alone.

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      The desire to serve, the adventure and lifetime experiences along with much prayer and soul searching led Andrew Yi to the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the “few and the proud” after graduating from the University of Florida in 2004 and is now a first lieutenant. He is currently deployed in Dijbouti, Africa as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom; he arrived there after spending eight months in Iraq.
      Lt. Yi’s younger brother is football and basketball captain, senior Eric Yi.
      “He’s my role model,” says Eric referring to his brother. “I back him up 100 percent.” This year will be the second year Lt. Yi won’t be home for the holidays.
      “I try not to think about him not being able to be here [for Christmas],” Eric said. As long as he keeps busy and continues to talk to his brother through email Eric says he doesn’t feel so alone.
      We had the privilege of contacting Lt. Yi and he had a message for his family and loved ones back home:
      Merry Christmas to Mom, Dad, and Eric. I know this is my second year being deployed during the holidays and of course I wish I could be home. But thank you for raising me to know that life isn’t about me and that there are things far greater than myself that are worth fighting and dying for Eric, I can’t wait to go home to hang out with my best friend. You taught me how to lead and the importance of setting the example. You make me proud and I’ll be looking forward to see you graduate.
Semper Fi, God Bless, and Merry Christmas, Andy Yi