ROCHELLE — Andy Rogde carried on the family tradition when he joined the Air Force in 2010. Veterans Day, the holiday to honor those who served, has a special meaning for him since he left active duty in 2014.

“I have always been kind of a history nerd and through some research I found that a member of my family has served in every major American conflict since World War II,” explained Rogde. “Carrying on this family tradition means a lot to me.”

Rogde, a 2007 Rochelle Township High School alumni, joined the Air Force in 2010 after deciding that college wasn’t for him. Rogde was recently married to Brittney and thought serving would be a great way to start a good life for himself and his wife.

“I took a lot of time when choosing which branch to serve in. I felt like the Air Force really cared about their people and took good care of them and that was really important to me,” explained Rogde.

Rogde remains a member of the Air National Guard and looks back on his time in active duty with fond memories.

“I have a lot of great memories from my time in service so far. I have experienced things that a lot of people never get to,” Rogde said. “I don’t think I could pick any one in particular, the best memories that I have are all about the people I have served with. The military is a family and you get very close to everyone.”

During his time in active duty Rogde served overseas in Qatar, a small country on the Persian Gulf, in 2012 and 2014. During his first deployment, Rogde learned just how hard it was to be away from family.

“The hardest aspect of Andy’s service was realizing that the military comes before family,” Brittney stated.

The couple found out they were expecting their first child and shortly after, Rogde received deployment orders. While on his first deployment in Qatar he missed the birth of his son by one week.

“I would say the hardest part of my time in service was not being there when my son was born. I ended up watching the delivery on Skype,” Rogde explained. “Even though I could see it and I could talk to them, it was really hard not being there.”

While in the Air Force, Rogde worked in the career field of material management. His main duties were working on aircraft supply, personal protective equipment, and hazardous material management. Rogde explained he chose the Air Force as the branch seemed to really care about each member and during his time in active duty he discovered the bond shared between the airmen.

“Not only have I had the privilege to work with some of the most advanced aircraft in the world but I truly feel like I have gained a new family,” said Rogde. “My favorite aspect of service is the brotherhood that develops with the people you serve with.”

Rogde would redo his time in active duty if he had the opportunity to go back. During the four years he grew as a person and was shaped by the people and experiences that the Air Force introduced him to, which impacted him more than he can say.

“It not only brought me a new career field but more importantly it taught me to take pride in everything that I do no matter how small the task,” stated Rogde. “It also really instilled a sense of pride in my country and the sacrifices that countless men and women have made to keep us all safe.”

Brittney added, “the first word that comes to mind when I think of his time in service is pride. There are no words to describe how proud I am of him. A lot of sacrifices have to be made when serving in our military and Andy didn’t think twice about making those sacrifices. Every time I hear the National Anthem, I get emotional thinking about all the sacrifices the men and women have made to keep us safe.”

While he continues to serve in the Air National Guard, Rogde is currently employed by Rochelle Municipal Utilities. As family members, friends and neighbors celebrate Veterans Day and thank those who serve Rogde reminded, “every veteran’s story is different and each one has their own feelings about their time in service but we as Americans should never forget these brave men and women.”