Community mourns ‘light of hope’ Dolia Gonzalez

EDINBURG, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — The mother of the late, highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez has died at the age of 94.

Dolia Gonzalez dedicated her life to raising her son. Then, went on to help her community in his memory.

Gonzalez would have turned 95 years old this Sunday. Many in the community called her a beacon of light because of the hope she would provide the families of fallen soldiers.

On the outside Gonzalez was a petite, delicate and reserved woman But, for her community, she was a giant who for over 50 years preserved her son’s legacy.

Her son, Freddy Gonzalez, was killed in Vietnam on Feb. 4, 1968, at the age of 21. In 1969, Gonzalez went on to receive her son’s Congregational Medal of Honor in Washington, D.C.

Military Advocate Mario Ybarra Jr., whose father also died in the Vietnam War, met Gonzalez during several Gold Star family events. He describes her as the very definition of a Gold Star Mother and calls her resilient.

“She is probably one of the most resilient individuals that I have ever come across,” Ybarra said. “I really admired her for that and her willingness to tell her son’s story and share that not only with the Valley community but with the entire world.”

The Museum of South Texas History CEO Francisco Guajardo, says one of the biggest gifts she left behind is the more than a hundred letters between her and her son that she shared with the museum.

The letters show how the son she raised alone was her whole world.

“Freddy has gotten a lot of attention because of the way the mother curated the story, protected the story, preserved the story, kept the letters, kept the story alive, to keep herself alive,” Guajardo said. “I think that’s a real lesson.”

Gonzalez gave the letters to the museum just four years ago when she turned 90 years old. She called the letters her bedtime reading for decades.

City of Edinburg Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Temp Daniel Diaz, says Gonzalez was also instrumental in veteran affairs and an example to all those who lost someone in battle.

“Seeing her just puts it all into perspective of the cost of war, and how after the war, there’s still a lot of casualties,” Diaz said. “You don’t have to be a soldier to be a casualty, family members, children, wives, mothers, and she was always there to make sure that the soldiers are not forgotten. She was a beacon of light for all of those that served and will serve.”

No funeral plans have been announced yet. However, Diaz said that the City of Edinburg is planning a tribute in her honor and more information will be available soon.

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