FIRE IN THE SKY BRINGS PASSION IN THE HEART

Dedicated to veterans and their  families everywhere.

FIRE IN THE SKY BRINGS PASSION IN THE HEART

By Peter Vuono

     On Sept 11,2001 at 8:46 AM and again at 10:28 AM, 14 year old native New Yorker Chris Melendez witnessed one of the greatest horrors ever foisted on the American people. As he stood in awe of a fire in the sky that would be part of a carnage which killed over 2900 people on the east coast, a passion of patriotism, and a yearning to come to his country's defense burned exponentially. He needed to act and fight back.At 17 he would join the Army.
   Chris worked his way up the ranks and became a sergeant. In 2006 he and his platoon were taken by surprise in Baghdad by an improvised explosive device(IED). Sgt. Melendez body was ravaged resulting in his left leg being blown off. His injuries were so severe that the medics needed to resuscitate him three times until his vital signs were made stable. The Purple Heart recipient would spend months back home in Fort Sam Houston before he would build a new life for himself. Little did he know that in addition to becoming a hero, he would some day be a professional wrestling icon.
   Chris learned the skill of becoming and electrical "grip" for the entertainment industry back in New York. He wold work for very high profile TV shows such as the children's Smurfs and for Tyler Perry. Few knew, however, that Chris had another passion for pro wrestling.
   He approached the very knowledgeable Bobby Lombardi of Brooklyn who had a wrestling school known as the Doghouse. He trained here until he had a serendipitous meeting with 3 wrestling superstars while he was volunteering for the  Wounded Warrior project. Chris met with Army veteran/WWE and TNA superstar Kenny Anderson and with DeVon Hughes and Mark Lomonico(better known as the wrestling legends- The Dudley Boys).Mark and DeVon invited Melendez to Coney Island. They wanted to hear his story.
   The passion that made him join the army again resonated in his dream of becoming a pro wrestler. Mark and DeVon were bowled over by this American hero that sat in front of them. Chris was given a free membership and free lessons if he would let go of everything, move to Florida and be trained at the Dudley's 3D School of Professional Wrestling in Kissimmee.
   Once Chris was ready he was given contact information to meet the down to earth congenial owner of Total Nonstop Action(TNA) wrestling Dixie Carter. TNA is the 2nd biggest promotion on earth and Dixie welcomed the American hero with a contract and open arms. Since then, Sergeant Chris Melendez has found a huge amount of success taking on only the best in pro wrestling. He has joined the ranks of superstar amputee icons alongside super surfer Bethany Hamilton, Everest conqueror Tom Whittaker and Terry Fox, the man who ran across Canada.
   Yes, Sergeant Chris Melendez was inspired by a fire in the sky. His latest mission is to now inspire people like he who ask themselves ,"Can I do this?" to kindle the same kind of passion in their hearts  and answer their question with "Yes, I can".