Healing Through Grief: A Journey of Service, Loss, and Advocacy

In this episode, Angel Munoz shares her inspiring journey of joining the Army and the deep military roots of her family. She opens up about the profound support they received from their community after the tragic loss of her brothers—Robert Arsiaga, US Army, KIA on April 4, 2004, and Jeremy Arsiaga, US Marine Corps, who passed away on September 4, 2015, after losing his battle with PTSD. Angel reflects on her initial struggles with accepting recognition for her service, feeling as though she had fallen short of her calling. Over time, however, she came to realize that her true duty was to share her family's story and advocate for her fellow veterans. Now, she is on a mission to start a nonprofit in her community to further support veterans. During this heartfelt conversation with Matthew Benko, Angel also explores the healing power of animals—particularly horses—in processing grief and trauma. She shares her personal experience with equine therapy, which helped her overcome resistance and find peace. Together, they highlight the importance of having a strong support system and the transformative impact of sharing one's story. Angel encourages others to reach out for help and embrace grief as a profound expression of love. Additionally, Robert’s story is featured in the National Geographic miniseries, based on Martha Raddatz's bestselling book, which recounts the harrowing eight-hour battle in Sadr City, Iraq on April 4, 2004, as experienced through the eyes of soldiers and their families. This episode concludes with a powerful song titled "Jeremy," dedicated to Angel’s brother who died by suicide. The song, available through Songwriting With Soldiers, serves as a tribute to his memory.