The classic holiday song “I’ll be Home for Christmas” rings true this holiday season for an LZHS graduate in the armed forces.

            Devian Ruiz, 2010 LZHS graduate, has been in the National Guard for two years and was set to be deployed in October 2012. Due to a change of plans and the end of the Iraq war (although fighting still continues in Afghanistan), he has not been sent for active duty overseas yet, and he will be home for the holidays. Senior Denae Ruiz, sister of Devian, is especially looking forward to his coming home because she knows he will not always be home for the Holidays.

“[Having him enrolled] is scary because he does talk a lot about going active and it takes a toll on our family because we never know what’s going to happen…ultimately it’s his decision,” Denae said, “[but] it means a lot knowing he’ll be home for the holidays because it makes us cherish the holidays.”

            Denae says the family was fairly surprised by Devian’s decision to join the army, but they always stayed supportive.

“I was so scared [when he told the family he was going to be in the Guard] because he told my sister and I he wanted to go to active duty right away,” Denae Ruiz said. “He had never really mentioned joining the Guard before.”

            Although his decision took his family by surprise, Devian was confident about his choice.

            “I wanted to do something different that wasn’t like every other college kid,” Devian said. “I liked that I could be independent, pay for myself, and have an opportunity to explore.”

            Although Devian acknowledges the upsides of joining the army, there is a danger that comes with active duty and deployment.

“I have friends who are stationed in Afghanistan,” Devian said, “and it’s just a whole different culture. You wake up and you don’t really know what could happen.”

Even though Devian knows the risks in his chosen career, he says the hardest thing about his job is being away from home.

“I’m really close to my sisters and my younger brother,” Devian said. “I’m looking forward to just cracking jokes and hanging out.”

Devian and Denae are looking forward to January 6 in particular, the celebration of Three Kings’ Day.

            “It’s a Mexican tradition that’s kinda like the Mexican version of Christmas that we try to celebrate every year with him and the rest of my family,” Denae said.

            Although Denae will be with her brother on Three King’s day, she recognizes that while she may not always see him frequently, she will always be proud of her brother.

            “It has given me a new perspective because it makes me appreciate the time I do have with my brother while he’s still here,” Ruiz said. “He makes our family very proud by doing such a selfless thing for this country.”

            Denae says her brother’s enrollment also makes her remember the work of other verterans, especially this time of year.

            “I have always appreciated it, but it means so much more having someone so close to me be a part of that,” Denae said. “I have so much respect for them and I appreciate what they do and have done to make this country a better place.”