BY JULISA NEVAREZ | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rene Avendano of Edinburg broke into tears when he learned he would receive a $25,000 grant to make his dreams come true.
A 24-year Marine veteran, Avendano says representatives from the AMVETS Veteranpreneur Business Grant surprised him with the news in November 2020.
“They kind of fooled me at first and told me, ‘We’re down to the last four people and we want to interview you,’ and I said, ‘OK,’” Avendano explained with a laugh.
Avendano spoke with representatives via a videoconference. Then they told him they liked the life goals he’d told them about and offered him the grant.
“I didn’t know what to say. I was without words,” he recalled. “I cried because I was so grateful and humbly thankful for that.”
On Thursday, Avendano finally received the $25,000 check from Lowe’s and the American Veterans association, a reward for a career that spanned two decades in the military and a vital stepping stone to a career closer to home.
Avendano’s passion for serving his country is rooted in his family’s history of service, a passing of the torch onto the next generation. His grandfather served in World War II, and his uncles served as well. His father planned on serving but was prevented by an injury.
“The Marine Corps was good to me. It was the best time of my life,” Avendano said. “I got to meet some new people, we went through some hard times of course, but it was the best experience that I ever had.”
Avendano served both active and reserve, working with explosive detection dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After his last deployment in the Middle East, Avendano decided it was time to return to his wife and 4-year-old daughter. He came back home and began pursuing a career in the plumbing business — another family vocation passed on by his grandfather.
Now 50, Avendano works at South Texas College as a police compliance coordinator. He’s earned his HVAC license and he’s working toward getting his license as a journeyman plumber.
His drive to help veterans get back on their feet inspires him to push forward and complete what he has set out to do.
“I started slow, but I think it’s picking up,” Avendano said. “What I eventually plan to do, God-willing, is form an apprenticeship program through the VA or by the Texas State Veterans Commission where veterans can use their GI Bill benefits and work as an approved apprentice. And I know that there’s apprenticeships out there, but these things are up north in the Dallas or Austin area. Down here in the Valley they’re very scarce.”
Avendano’s dream of becoming a plumbing entrepreneur and giving back to fellow veterans is now one step closer thanks to the Lowe’s and AMVETS Veteranpreneur Business Grant.
“I’ve been lucky and blessed that the Lord gave me the world to serve. Being 50, I was fortunate growing up. I lost some friends in Iraq and ever since then, I’ve always tried to live each day to the fullest for them,” he said. “I served my nation and I’m proud to be an American. I’m always proud of my family and my Marine Corps and my Rio Grande Valley.”
