Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

MOUNTAIN TOP — Nicole and Chris Garza’s paths crossed in 2014, while both of them were working at a Veterans Affairs facility in Colorado. They were married a year later and now have an active 2-year-old son.

Nicole, who grew up in North Carolina, served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army and is the first female in her family to join the armed forces. Her deployments took her to Kosovo, Germany, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chris, a native of Austin, Texas, decided to pursue his childhood dream and enlisted in the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as well.

The family relocated to Mountain Top from Colorado this past July, and Nicole is working at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre as the Chief of Social Services. However, she also is on reserve. If deployed again, she will serve as a Behavioral Health officer in the Army and will provide counseling to soldiers and assist with mental health issues.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Times Leader sat down with the Garzas to discuss their experiences while serving abroad, transitioning back to civilian life, and the ongoing struggle of being a military family.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_IMG_3949-1.jpg.optimal.jpg

VideoID: GNGJ3HlWs2E
VideoType: YOUTUBE
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNGJ3HlWs2E
Video Embed String: <iframe width=”560” height=”315” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNGJ3HlWs2E” frameborder=”0” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Video Caption:
Video Credit:
Video Position:

(use the “for files…” link above to associate attached files with this source)