Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo
Photo courtesy of CSM Victor Mercado
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo: He left Panama and fell in love with New York City
Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, 47
Born and raised in Panama
Army Staff Sgt. Julian Melo, who moved to the United States as an adult after resigning from the Panamanian Army, passionately loved his adopted country and especially New York City.
Specifically, said his wife Norma, Melo was drawn to the Statue of Liberty and what it stands for.
"He visited the statue every chance he could get," she said.
Because Melo, 47, was a military man in his native Panama, it was logical that he would join the U.S. Army after emigrating to this country in the late 1980s, his wife said.
Melo resigned his commission from Panama's army a little while before the American invasion of that country in late 1989.
His departure, said Melo's wife, caused his family a lot of grief. Soon after, he came to the United States.
He first moved in with his sister in Brooklyn, where his love affair with New York began.
"He loved New York, everything that city stood for," said Norma Melo, his wife of 10 years, who recently moved to Spanaway with Julian and their son.
"I don't care where he physically was, he always lived in New York.
Melo, a supply specialist, had served in the U.S. military for 12 years, his wife said, and had served several tours in South Korea. The family had lived near Fort Lewis since 1994.
Melo's family described him yesterday as "a soldier first" but also as a loving husband and brother and friend to many.
"His wife, Norma, felt she could never live up to his expectations," said Melo family members in a written statement, "because whenever she did anything for him, he would turn around and do something exceptional for her." Said Norma: "He was full of life, full of joy. I am blessed to have had him in my life."
Melo is also survived by his son, Joshua Melo.
-- Sam Skolnik
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo: He left Panama and fell in love with New York City
Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, 47
Born and raised in Panama
Army Staff Sgt. Julian Melo, who moved to the United States as an adult after resigning from the Panamanian Army, passionately loved his adopted country and especially New York City.
Specifically, said his wife Norma, Melo was drawn to the Statue of Liberty and what it stands for.
"He visited the statue every chance he could get," she said.
Because Melo, 47, was a military man in his native Panama, it was logical that he would join the U.S. Army after emigrating to this country in the late 1980s, his wife said.
Melo resigned his commission from Panama's army a little while before the American invasion of that country in late 1989.
His departure, said Melo's wife, caused his family a lot of grief. Soon after, he came to the United States.
He first moved in with his sister in Brooklyn, where his love affair with New York began.
"He loved New York, everything that city stood for," said Norma Melo, his wife of 10 years, who recently moved to Spanaway with Julian and their son.
"I don't care where he physically was, he always lived in New York.
Melo, a supply specialist, had served in the U.S. military for 12 years, his wife said, and had served several tours in South Korea. The family had lived near Fort Lewis since 1994.
Melo's family described him yesterday as "a soldier first" but also as a loving husband and brother and friend to many.
"His wife, Norma, felt she could never live up to his expectations," said Melo family members in a written statement, "because whenever she did anything for him, he would turn around and do something exceptional for her." Said Norma: "He was full of life, full of joy. I am blessed to have had him in my life."
Melo is also survived by his son, Joshua Melo.
-- Sam Skolnik
