As the first in her family to serve in the military, Army Spc. Cecilia Martinez appreciates the significance of being the first to take this path. Her father, Antonio Martinez Ruiz, immigrated to the United States from Escape del Lagunillas, Puebla, Mexico. His pursuit of the American dream has always served as a motivation for her to keep pushing the boundaries of what she can do, she said.

“The one-person that has inspired me the most is my dad,” Martinez said. “He came to the United States like most immigrant families to have a better life and better work opportunities. He came at a young age and left a lot of his family behind. He is one the most hard-working people I know, and he would do anything for us.”

Her father worked in restaurants as a cook and dishwasher, she said, experiences that made him an excellent cook. He also worked in agriculture, picking a variety of fruits and vegetables. His experiences further shaped him into the inspirational person that she looks up to and who shaped her into the person she has become.

“Besides working so hard, he is the kindest person I know and tries to help people whenever he can,” she said.

Now, over seven years later after first enlisting in the Minnesota National Guard in 2016 at the age of 17, Martinez, who resides in Richfield, is also helping others. Currently, she is working as a culinary specialist with Saint Paul-based Echo Company, 2^nd Battalion of the 147^th Aviation Regiment. Although her father was hesitant about her enlisting, he was supportive of her decision, Martinez said. Making the decision to join was one that was intimidating, she said, but it was something she had long dreamed of doing that has extended her already large family.

“It was honestly a very scary choice for me, but it was something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she said. “The military has been a place that makes me feel like I can be myself and everyone I’ve met has become like a second family to me.”

Having this second family, Martinez said, has helped her to build many memories and has been her favorite part of serving.

“My favorite part about serving has been making some really special bonds with people all over the country and I am grateful for that,” she said. “We have become more like a family and what is great about it is that we understand each other since we experience these things together. Also, having the opportunity to do all these things I would probably never have done in the civilian world. It has taught me to face my fears and that someone will always have my back.”

Growing up with Spanish as her first language created a challenge for her in communicating with and understanding other children her age, Martinez said, but not one she wasn’t able to overcome. Some cultural differences and her specific family situation made it difficult to understand why her parents could not always be around for school functions, but now, as an adult, she realizes that her parents were working hard to give her and her siblings the life they wanted for them.

“As I got older, I realized that it was because they didn’t understand due to language barriers and they also had to work,” she said. “They worked very hard to make sure we had everything we needed to succeed.”

Her cultural and personal experience has helped to shape the person she is today, Martinez said.

“I am very proud of my Hispanic culture and everything that has happened in life to get to where I am today,” she said.

Some of her favorite aspects about Hispanic culture that she would love to share with others, Martinez said, includes special holidays such as Dia De Los Muertos, and, the food that comes from a variety of Hispanic traditions.

“One thing that I love about my culture is that we are very proud of who we are and where we came from,” she said. “Another thing that I love and wish I did more is celebrate Dia de los Muertos. It’s a tradition that lasts days, family and friends gather and we remember and celebrate our loved ones. Something that I think would be great for everyone to get to know is our food! When people usually think of our food, they think spicy which is true, but not every Hispanic culture likes spicy food. There are so many amazing, savory, sweet and tasty things around us I wish everyone could try.”

Reflecting on the observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, Martinez said this month of observance offers her and others the opportunity to see that regardless of who you are, nothing is impossible.

“What this means to me is being able to show others like me that anything is possible,” she said. “My ethnicity does not define who I am. We can do anything we put our minds to and we should not be afraid to do something just because we might be the only ones. I am a Mexican woman and proud of who I am and where I came from. This shouldn’t be a reason to stop me or let others stop me from doing what I want. Since I joined, I have seen more diversity in the military and it has been amazing. I hope this inspires others to pursue their goals and dreams and not be afraid to follow their ambitions.”

Story by Sgt. 1^st Class Sirrina Martinez
Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs