Father honors son for Memorial Day

YUMA, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY) - On Memorial Day we honor and remeber the men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacarfice protecting the country.

One local father, Ricardo Sandoval's son died in June of 2007 on the line of duty. His son, Frank Sandoval served for seven years in the military, he received the purple heart and honored with the third-highest medal for bravery.

 “Freedom is not free, we know the cost of freedom, we wave the flag every chance we get," said Ricardo.

Ricardo tells News 11 that his son was on a classified mission when his son and his fellow soldiers were ambushed. He later found it that it was his son who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

 “For them to survive the ambush one had to run jump on top of the huvi and repel the insertions," said Ricardo.

His son Frank joined when he was 21-years-old after 9/11 shook the world, but the man behind who inspired Frank was his grandfather. The family honors Frank by visiting him at his grave.

 “Once he passed away 7 of his organs were given out so that others can live and I just can’t say enough about his heroic actions," said Ricardo.