DAD'S BELOVED MOUNTAINS OF ADJUNTAS

GLADYS SINGS TO DAD

FRANCISCO; "I'VE TRIED TO BE A GOOD FATHER"

Francisco Serrano is seen here with his wife, Felicita M. Serrano. The audio reveals in Spanish, his love for his family. He recalls asking the Lord to extend his life until he see his granddaughter Sylvia walk down the aisle. Francisco also stated, "I have always tried to be a Good Father!" "I have always tried to help them" "My wishes for them were to help them go to college and become professional sons and daughters" Francisco loves everyone of his children equally. he had no favorites. It is apparent that Felicita was the Disciplinarian. Francisco Serrano rarely punished his children and it was only in the most egregious circumstances. He would often declare that it hurt him more than it did his children. Francisco Serrano has a zest for living a long life. His wife Felicita often declared: "You are asking too much of God" Francisco had a habit of asking the Lord to extend his life until he sees his newborn child shave. He kept amending this prayer every time each child was born. Francisco, later revised the prayer to include each of his grandchildren. The Lord has truly blessed this man with longevity.

A YOUNG PANCHITO

DAD'S HOME IN W.W.II

Until very recently Fort Clayton, a U.S. Army installation located at the Pacific opening of the Panama Canal, hosted the largest number of U.S. military and civilian personnel in Latin America. In 1994, prior to troop drawdowns, Fort Clayton accommodated 20,000 military and civilian personnel including family members.1 The facility’s closure and handover to Panama are to take place in December 1999.
Fort Clayton's 2,180 acres hosted the U.S. Army South (USARSO, the army component of the U.S. Southern Command, or Southcom), the Military Police Command, and the 106th Signal Brigade. The base also encompassed 1,392 homes, dormitories for 1,754, schools for dependents and several recreational facilities.2
U.S. Army South moved its headquarters to Fort Buchanan, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, between October 1998 and July 1999.3 The Southcom component, which includes an infantry battalion and aviation, engineer, intelligence, logistics and military police units, is now headquartered in the former “Building 390” barracks on the grounds of Fort Buchanan. The Defense Department is building new facilities for USARSO at Fort Buchanan as well, such as a 75-room guest house and a middle school.4
Between July 30 and December 31, 1999, the only USARSO presence in Panama is to be a “rear detachment” of 100 soldiers.5 Upon its move to Puerto Rico, USARSO will shrink from 3,868 to 1,382 active and reserve soldiers and civilians (the military component will shrink from 2,283 to about 900).6 “To compensate for reduced manning,” reports Southcom Commander-in-Chief Gen. Charles Wilhelm, “USARSO will rely heavily on the more than 16,000 Army and Air Force Guardsmen and Reservists stationed in Puerto Rico.”7
Corozal, a sub-installation at Fort Clayton, hosted the U.S. Army Tropic Test Center, the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade and several residences.8 U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), the Special Forces component of Southcom, was headquartered at East Corozal until June 1999, when its 309 military and civilian personnel completed their move to U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.9

DAD FEEDING THE BIRDS

A FATHER TO BE PROUD OF

By Noel Serrano

My Father never had much in life. He was raised by his Grandmother because his young mother Felicita was too busy taking care of herself, her husband and her large family. Francisco was raised in the hills of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. His two uncles Jose and Juan were brought up together as brothers. Puerto Rico in the 1920s, were tough times. In the years ahead, the Great Depression would make this tiny island even more difficult for the families that struggled to survive. Francisco often spoke about a young Missionary named Mr Drury. He mentored the young Francisco and taught him English and about nobility, love of God and country. The young boy learned well and became a very responsible and devoted tutor. Mr Drury became very fond of young Francisco and helped him very much during these early years. There friendship was very similar to that of the two stars in the movie; the Karate kid. Francisco spoke to us about the many antics that he and his sister Mina use to do in between doing their daily chores. One day Panchito (as he was nick-named forever) gazed up at the big ducks flying about. This really impressed him. He went into the barn and saw the baby pigs and wondered out loud if they could fly too. One by one, Panchito threw them way up to the sky and they made a loud thump as they plunged to the ground. Some of those little pigs did not feel so well. When Panchito's grandparents came home and saw the sprawled pigs, they inquired; "What happened, Little Panchito was starry eyed and stood angelically quiet. His little sister Mina declared; "Pano, Pano, Bolla, Bolla," {fly, fly) The grand parents quickly learned what had happened. Panchito was whipped for this little undertaking.

Francisco Serrano was a hard working young man who was raised as a Baptist. He began preaching at a young age and the mysterious death of his father matured him before his time........(To be continued)

FRANCISCO TURNS 89 YEARS

Francisco Serrano was able to quietly celebrate is 89th birthday. The following video captures this Happy Day.

"IF WALLS COULD SPEAK"

By Noel Serrano

The large house glistened in the early morning sun and the familiar commotion of little feet running high above the 2nd floor where the family bedrooms were..

One of the older sisters are vigorously at work, for the day is a special day for the family. The children are quietly waking up now and given a present for the man on his special day.

One by one, go into the middle room where the older sister is at work, handling assorted packages of gifts labeled for father. There is a quiet reverence and a deep appreciation for this day because the father is still snuggled in bed and does not know what awaits him. The younger children are as excited about this day as if it were Christmas Eve. the mother is now up and gently kisses her husband and hands him a large box that has been wrapped very carefully and laced with great love and humility.

The birds are now chirping with a spring-like melody as the children begin to march in the master bedroom to each hand their gift to the man of the day. The father is now alert and with a flushed face, begins to sow his famous expression of emotion. the children are all a little shy at first, but after awhile, they begin to pile on the great bed along with their parents.

Each gift and each card is read and the delight of family and togetherness is visible in the eyes of all who witnessed this yearly ritual. There are now sounds of joy and laughter in the 2nd floor of this old, beloved house and the quiet hall now yearns to be a part of the family that has gathered in the large bedroom to honor the man that made so many things possible. this was the man that worked all night in the post office. This was the man that built box cars so that we could play with during those long summer days. This was the man who watched over us and protected us through the most vulnerable years. The eyes of the father would now glisten with tears of gratitude to see all of his children honor him in this manner. This bedroom was now full with kids, young and old, sitting around with father.

The father would thank All of them and would hug them and say "You are all my children and I thank God for each and everyone of you. Mother was nearby with a proud smile. She would recall how, weeks before, the setting was familiar...that was the day that the children would all honor her. There is no doubt that the feeling of family that was visible in that bedroom endures each and everyday in the collective mind and heart of this family.

After a great moment of togetherness, there came the familiar voice of our mother that declared: "okay, let's all get dressed, we're going to church".

Thank you Father and you too, Mom.

BIOGRAPHY OF FRANCISCO SERRANO

Francisco Serrano is now 89 years old. He was born on Dec 17, 1919 in Ponce, Puerto Rico to the late Jeronimo and Felicita Serrano. He attended Betancia Grade School in Puerto Rico .

He graduated from Robert Lewis Stevenson School in 1951. He also graduated from the Latin American Bible Institute in 1961. He served in the U.S. army during WWII, and was stationed at Ft Clayton AFB in Panama in September of 1943. He attained the rank of Tech 5 which was in the same level of a Corporal. He received the American Theater Service Medal. He was awarded the WW II Victory Medal and four Overseas Service Bars. Francisco received an Honorable discharge on September 30, 1946. On May 10. 1946, Francisco was united in marrage to Felicita Maldonado in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

in 1946, Francisco and Felicita moved to New York City and he began working for the U.S. Postal. Service. He purchased his first home in 1961 in Queens, New York. In 1976, he retired from the U.S. Postal Service and moved his large family to Tampa, Florida where he purchased a new home in 1977.

Francisco Serrano is a current member of Riverhills Church of God and is a retired Minister for the Church of God: Mission Board, where he served three terms as an Associate pastor for a Member Church at Hubert Ave in Tampa, Florida. He was a member of the Latin American Church of God "La Sinagoga", serving as Church Secretary in 1960-63. He served on the Board of Directors for the Men's Society, as a volunteer for mission Board fund raising projects, and as a "Meals on Wheels" volunteer for many years. He was a member of the Forresters Lodge and one of the original Board Members of the Gala Foundation, a Family Fraternal Organization. He was also a Radio program Host of a local show entitled "Men of God". Francisco was recently invited to a special Luncheon honoring him and showcasing him on a special commercial for "Meals on wheels" He recently received a Birthday card from President George W. Bush wishing him well on his 89th Birthday.

THE ROLE OF A FATHER

By Francisco Serrano

It is a Man that has been a son and when he marries, becomes a husband. as a Father, one plays a very important role that begins in the home and ends in the street, notwithstanding a mention of the Church. first and foremost,as Father of the family, it is a very difficult task to become a successful father. It is not an easy task. One needs to acquire wisdom and understanding. There are no schools that teach us how to be a good father. There are no institutions that teach us at an early, prudent age, all of the principles of Fatherhood. Usually at the age of 16 or 17 It would be expedient to have lessons on how to be a good father so that they would be successful in this part of their lives. Being a father is a virtue that a mother does not possess, eventhough she can convert herself to being a father as well, if she has taken the example of the man that she called father and if this example that she saw in him is a good one. a son will always learn from the father. whatever the father does, the same will do a son or daughter.

If the example was a good one, their families and their homes will be a good one. They will continue to acquire great wisdom as time goes on. There will come a time when they will become good fathers only if they were good sons to begin with. They will also be good husbands.

A good father will alway try to project the image of our heavenly Father. God , the father, delegates us this principle of being great fathers This should be a daily effort and task. we cannot be a father one day and not be a father another day. we cannot skip days. There is no agenda or schedule. There is no retirement nor jubilation even if we have one foot in our tomb. fatherhood is hardwork because sometimes our children will ask us questions that we cannot answer partly because we do not know the answers. we might not have acquired the proper degree of education. A father must always be aware of daily tensions that occur within the home between father and son and husband and wife. When a man becomes a father and forms a home and family, he must be aware that it is the first intitution that was formed by God. If the cities fail, the nations fail. The great Empires such as Rome suffered its demise as well as many other great empires due to a familiar crisis. Many countries have flourished and prospered. They have endured and withstood many disasters and situations because they had stable families. Those families had stable chiefs Let us take the Jewish people for an example. There is no other nation that has been more persecuted and many have tried for 4000 years to destroy her. They have maintaned a strong unity because of the strong influence of their fathers. I thank God for all of my sons that God gave me. They were able to start their own families. If they are happy, I am happy as well.

HONORING MY FATHER!

The following website is dedicated to a Great Man. He is Francisco Serrano, My Father and My Hero. Francisco Serrano is a Man that raised his large family in a very noble and reverant manner.
A Commandment With a Promise

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which
the LORD thy God giveth thee," Exodus 20:12. "Honor thy father and thy mother,
as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and
that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,"
Deuteronomy 5:16

He set the example for his family. He worked two jobs to provide for his family. He sent his full military pay from WW II to his mother. He worked tirelessly at night and worked in a high school cafeteria during the day. He sacrificed all he had for his family. Francisco was known as "Panchito" He worked for many years in the U.S. Postal Service. He worked and maintained the large machines that brought in the mail. This website is dedicated this day to be a perpetual tribute to this Great Man. Francisco Serrano passed on to be with the Lord at 12:15 PM Wednesday, April 8, 2009. He was 89 years young.

Noel Serrano