End of Service for Sgt. Lopez

By Katie McFadden
The American Legion Daniel M. O’Connell Post #272 recently announced the passing of their member Sergeant Ernesto Lopez on Friday, July 12. He was 81.
Lopez was originally from Embudo, New Mexico, growing up on a farm in a family of seven kids. On the farm, he learned the value of hard work, while embracing religion through lessons from his grandparents. At a young age, Lopez had realized farm work wasn’t for him, so after finishing eighth grade, he entered seminary school, where he attended for three years, but ultimately realized priesthood wasn’t his calling either.
Instead, at age 17, he enlisted In the U.S. Air Force on April 25, 1965. In 1967, Lopez volunteered to go to Vietnam, where he worked repairing microwave radios. Lopez narrowly escaped being injured by a sheet of corrugated roofing that flew off during a typhoon and nearly hit him. Fortunately, he made it back to the states safely, honorably discharged from the military on April 27, 1969. For his service, he earned the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Air Space Longevity Award.
After returning, Lopez lived in California for a short time before moving to Belle Harbor in Rockaway. He went on to go to Pace College on his G.I. Bill, and later earned an MBA from the NYU School of Business. He worked many years for financial institutions until he retired in 2007, married his sweetheart, Elzbieta Jasinska, and spent much of his free time traveling the world and learning new languages. He was an active participant in local American Legion ceremonies like the Memorial Day Parade and Veterans’ Day wreath laying.
A funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, July 17 at St. Rose of Lima Church. Sgt. Lopez’ wishes are to be cremated and buried in his hometown in New Mexico.