Page 96 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

by Terra Gunter
eterans Andrea, Allen,
and Andy Kolczynski
Vhave traded their military
uniforms for Lubbock Meals on
Wheels aprons, continuing a life of
service in a new, powerful way.
A Family Built by Service
Service is more than a career for
the Kolczynskis —it’s part of their
family history. Andrea joined
the Army through an ROTC
scholarship; Allen was drafted
during the Vietnam War but
enlisted and chose to serve in Italy;
and their son Andy enlisted in the
Marine Corps as soon as he could
because of 9/11. Their military
paths were different, but their
reasons were the same: a sense
96 Lubbock Senior Link
of duty and a desire to be part of
something bigger than themselves. Lubbock, but he felt the move was
“My most memorable experience
was personal,” Andrea recalls. “I
met Allen in the military, and we
had Andy while we were serving.
The military helped create our
family.” Andy, who spent 2010 in
Afghanistan, remembers the stark
contrast between public perception
and reality. “People think
it’s all action like in the
movies, but a lot of it is
downtime with moments of
intensity. And the sacrifice
doesn’t end when you come
home—there are physical
and mental costs that stay
with you.”
The Transition to Civilian Life
After decades of service, the
Kolczynskis eventually returned
to civilian life. Andrea and Allen
moved around the country—
Arizona, Maryland, Hawaii—
before settling in Lubbock to
be closer to their grandchildren
and better healthcare. Andy
followed, motivated by a desire
to help care for his grandmother,
who was battling Alzheimer’s.
Unfortunately, she passed before
Andy was able to move to
the right decision anyway.
Andrea said, “The transition to
civilian life wasn’t too difficult—the
hardest part was figuring out what
to wear every day because, when
you’re in the military, you have a
uniform. I would spend so much
time trying to put together outfits.”