America 250: I served because America is worth fighting for
Imperial Valley Press
Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez
June 26, 2026
In just under a week, our nation will celebrate 250 years of independence.
For some, that anniversary will be marked with fireworks, parades, and celebrations. For me, it is something much more personal.
I’m the son of an immigrant.
My father came to this country from Mexico in search of opportunity, believing that America offered something unique: the chance to build a better life through hard work, sacrifice, and determination. Like generations of immigrants before him, he came with little more than hope and a belief that if he worked hard, he could build a better future for his family. Because of his courage, I grew up with opportunities that millions around the world still dream about today.
I was able to go to school, make lifelong friends, and dream big. After high school, I chose to serve the country that had given my family so much. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and ultimately served 21 years, including four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I didn’t serve because America is perfect.
I served because America is worth fighting for.
Like many veterans, my service came with sacrifices that followed me home. The physical wounds of war left me permanently disabled, and the emotional wounds followed me. I lost ten Marines to suicide. The weight of those losses is something I carry every day. There was a time when I was struggling so deeply that I nearly became number eleven. What saved me was the support of my family, my fellow veterans, my faith in God, and the reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is hope.
Those experiences shaped who I am today. They are why I fight so hard for veterans, military families, and those who feel forgotten.
Today, I have the honor of serving in the California State Assembly. I’m currently the only military veteran serving in the Assembly, Vice Chair of the Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, and co-chair of the California Legislative Veterans Caucus. Every day, I have the privilege of being a voice for those who wore the uniform and those who continue to bear the invisible wounds of service. I have also had the opportunity to build friendships with colleagues from both sides of the aisle because when we work together, we can accomplish far more than when we allow politics to divide us.
But my proudest titles aren’t Assemblyman or Marine.
They are husband to my superhero wife, Christine, and father to our four incredible children.
America gave me the opportunity to marry the love of my life, raise a family, and advocate for my son RJ and others in the disability community. It gave me the opportunity to serve my neighbors and represent the communities I love.
That is why America 250 matters.
This anniversary belongs to all Americans. It is an opportunity to reflect on where we have been, celebrate what unites us, and recommit ourselves to the ideals that have carried our nation forward for two and a half centuries.
In recent weeks, millions of people from around the world have traveled to the United States for the FIFA World Cup. Across social media, viral videos have captured visitors marveling at America’s hospitality, celebrating our diverse culture, and embracing experiences many of us take for granted. Watching them discover America through fresh eyes has been a reminder of how special this country truly is. At a time when it seems fashionable to focus on everything that’s wrong with America, visitors are falling in love with the generosity of our people, the strength of our communities, and the opportunities that continue to draw people here from every corner of the globe. In many ways, they are seeing the same promise that brought my father and so many others to America over the past 250 years.
We are not perfect.
We never have been.
But America remains the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known. It is a nation where the son of an immigrant can become a Marine, where a combat veteran can serve in elected office, and where every generation has the opportunity to build a better future than the one before it.
As we prepare to celebrate 250 years of freedom, let’s do it with gratitude. Let’s honor those who built this nation, defended it, and sacrificed for it. Let’s teach the next generation not just what America is but also what America makes possible.
I owe my life to this country.
And I will never stop loving it. I will never stop fighting for it. And I will never stop believing in the promise that has inspired generations of Americans for nearly 250 years.
Here’s to the next 250.