Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Iowa National Guard Soldier reflects on his heritage By Staff Sgt. Tawny Schmit,
                Iowa National Guard
 JOHNSTON, Iowa – Staff Sgt. Henry Meza grew up on a farm in Siguatepeque, Honduras, a small town that didn’t see electric lights until he was grown. Meza spent much of his childhood helping run the family coffee business. At ten years old, he spent many days carrying 100 pounds of coffee beans on his back, transferring it to a horse that would take it to the processing plant. But in between the hours of work in the hot sun, Meza would catch a glimpse of Honduran soldiers as they trekked through the surrounding mountains. His grandmother would often host groups of soldiers and invite them to eat homemade meals with the family. Although Meza continues to harbor a great liking for coffee and wholesome meals, he’ll never forget the times when his grandmother would say, “Henry is going to be a Soldier.” Whether it was because of his outgoing personality, athletic abilities, or love for the outdoors, his grandmother’s prediction came true – but the uniform he wears today sports a U.S. flag. Although Meza’s grandmother primarily raised him, he knew his mother through photographs and phone calls they would receive from New Jersey on their landline. At 12 years old, he left his grandmother and the aunts and uncles who raised him to join his mom in New Jersey. “I played soccer, wrestling and track,” Meza said, “I was very active in sports in school. I graduated and ended up getting a scholarship to play at Grand View University. So, I moved to Iowa.” It was his freshman year of college when Meza met Capt. Bradley Roenfeld who described himself as somewhat of an introvert. “We had a mutual friend and we just clicked, talking, hanging out, doing workouts together,” Roenfeld said. “He was the more approachable, very social person, more outgoing than I was.” It wasn’t long before both Meza and Roenfeld decided to enlist in the Iowa Army National Guard in 2012. The decision was made separately, but the two friends ended up attending basic training together. While Meza went the enlisted route and Roenfeld became an officer, their career paths taking them in different directions, their friendship remained and their families melded together. When Roenfeld thinks about the kind of person Meza is and how his Hispanic American culture impacts his daily life, he remembers cheerful dinners with Meza’s relatives that made him feel like he had always been a part of the family. He also thinks back to a moment in college. The exchange serves as a reminder for both of them that many people don’t know about the small cultural practices of being Hispanic American. “I introduced him to a friend and he walked right up and gave her a hug,” Roenfeld said. “She’s like, ‘Who are you exactly?’ I’m like, oh that’s Henry, he’s my buddy. And it shows you that while it’s a common practice where he’s from, it’s not here.” While Meza has learned about and respects the norms of a country he didn’t spend time in for the first part of his life, he also encourages those who aren’t familiar with Hispanic customs to “simply ask.” “If someone has a question, like ‘Why do you do something this way?’ he explains it,” said Roenfeld. “He says, this is how we do it in my family. He has never shied away from being authentic in himself and that’s something I hold in high regard for him.” Meza’s charismatic personality and the work ethic he carries with him from his upbringing in Honduras are valuable skills he applies to the work he does in the Iowa National Guard, especially for his role in the Service to the Citizenship program. The program allows young adults who joined the Guard to register an eligible relative who will receive assistance with citizenship. Meza attends various events to connect with people and educate them about the program. After a long waiting period and much paperwork, Meza attained his citizenship in 2013, so he knows how complicated and daunting the immigration process can be. “I think it doesn’t matter if you’re in the military. A lot of organizations love seeing diversity because it shows that we’re not just aiming toward hiring people,” Meza said, “and it helps make the National Guard stronger because you have Soldiers from different walks of life. You can relate to people in the civilian world who might think it’s not for them, and then they see somebody who’s like them and they think, ‘Maybe this can be for me.’”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Iowa National Guard
 Honduras
 Hispanic American Heritage Month
 NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen News Features • yesterday
 Chaplains Address Guard Soldiers’ Spiritual, Mental Health News Features • 6 days ago
 Guard General Retires After Final Watch at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier News Features • 7 days ago
 Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard News Features • 7 days ago
 80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings News Features • 13 days ago
 2024 (47)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil