Today, I join my family, my Marine family, and my AT&T family to send a very important message to those who have served our country in the military: thank you for your dedication, courage and sacrifice.br br My family ancestry is Native American, Spanish and Mexican and most importantly, American. As second generation Americans, my parents experienced segregation firsthand and were directly affected by the Civil Rights Movement. I lived in San Antonio, a city where people migrated to find better lives for their families. My parents’ experiences and the respect for America I saw in my community set the foundation for my appreciation of education, freedom and opportunity.