Drake State Community and Technical College hosted a special event celebrating veterans at the Von Braun Center on November 3.

Sal Gonzalez, Marine Corps Veteran, musician, and spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project Warriors Speak Initiative, was the headlining speaker for the event. Through music and storytelling, he shared his personal struggles and victories with attendees.

Gonzalez survived an IED explosion in his truck in 2004 while serving in Iraq. The attack resulted in the loss of his left leg below the knee, PTSD, and a traumatic brain injury.

While recovering in a Maryland hospital, he had his first encounter with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which offered resources and trips with family that brought him comfort.

During his recovery, Gonzalez said he struggled immensely, but the WWP helped him once again.

“I felt guilty for breathing and guilty for living my life and pursuing my dreams when my friends were still actively getting shot at. I felt like a coward, and I shied away from anything that had to do with my service until I got a phone call in 2008 from the Wounded Warrior Project,” he said.

During that call, the WWP asked Gonzalez to ask him to participate in their Soldier Ride, an adaptive multi-day cycling event.

During this time, Gonzalez said he and other veterans in the program were wrestling with unhealthy drinking habits, but said that the event was a wake-up call. After this event, he and others from the program decided to work toward recovery.

“Slowly but surely, through the help of Wounded Warrior Project, peer support, therapy… we were able to get our drinking habits in order. All of us stopped trying to hide from our pain with substances,” he said.

Gonzalez said music has been instrumental in his recovery and healing from his past adversity.

“People have different ways of handling things, and for me, it has always been writing songs. I’m very lucky that I got obsessed with music when I was very young and I’ve gotten a lot of really cool opportunities,” he said.

Gonzalez has achieved success and national notoriety as a musician with appearances on the television shows “America’s Got Talent” and “Nashville.” He’s also performed at the famous Grand Ole Opry and released several songs.

Gonzalez ended his speech with an encouraging note to the audience in saying, “If I leave you with nothing else, just remember that this world’s better with you than without you.”

The event also featured another special speaker, a local Drake State staff member and veteran, Manuel “Tony” Hernandez. Hernandez graduated from the college with honors with a degree in engineering design.

The Drake State alumnus gave an emotional speech on his struggle with addiction and coping with what he experienced serving in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard.

For Hernandez, this was a significant moment, as it was his first time sharing his story publicly.

“My experiences in Iraq changed me in ways I’m still trying to understand. Nothing can truly prepare you for the reality of war, the constant tension, the uncertainty, the weight of knowing every day could be your last,” Hernandez said.

He continued, “I battled depression, anxiety, a traumatic brain injury, and a back injury, and I didn’t know how to be a civilian again. I drowned myself in addiction.”

Hernandez said his military service has left him with both painful and positive memories.

“There were moments of courage and brotherhood that I’ll always be proud of, but there were also moments that left deep marks on my heart,” Hernandez said.

“I was in and out of psychiatric wards, struggling to accept and process this new life. I even ended up homeless for a year, wandering across the United States with no direction, no hope, and no faith in myself, utterly destroying my relationships with my loved ones,” he said.

Ultimately, Hernandez said he turned to faith in God and positive relationships for his healing.

“Little by little, I built new habits. I surrounded myself with people who lifted me up instead of tearing me down. I learned that faith isn’t about praying when things get hard, it’s about living in a way that honors the second chance you’ve been given,” he said.

Hernandez also credited his college for being a crucial part of his comeback story.

“Drake State didn’t just provide me with an education. It gave me a community. It gave me mentors and a support system that encouraged me to keep going,” he said.

In addition to the powerful stories shared by both Gonzalez and Hernandez, community and veteran-focused organizations hosted tables offering resources and networking opportunities for veterans, service members, and their families.