Serenity Health is dedicated to the man whose financial generosity helped bring this dream to life, my father, Stephen John Herczeg LTC (ret).
Writing this memorial dedication has proven to be a task I have avoided due to heartache and fear of not being able to do this justice. My hope is that those reading this will understand the great impact this man has had on my life and the lives of so many others.

Dad passed away unexpectedly June 20th 2022 at 62 years old. I thought I had more time. Don't we all? I wasn't ready to let this man go. When I think of words like honor, morality, strength and bravery, a vivid picture of him comes to mind. He was, and still is, my hero and I am so proud of who he was and what he stood for.  He was commissioned as an armor officer in 1983 and spent 21 years on active duty, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group, 4th Psychological Operations Group and 75th Ranger Regiment, culminating as a PSYOPS branch chief at U.S. Special Operations Command. My dad was said to be a formidable leader in the creation of special operations doctrine in the post-9/11 Army, with service in Iraq and Afghanistan. His contributions continued after retirement into the civilian sector.

In October 2017, he was an inductee as a distinguished member of the Psychological Operations Regiment. Those at the ceremony observed that the individuals being inducted demonstrated the highest standards of integrity, moral character and professional competence. The Ceremony was meant to bridge the giants of past special operations missions to today's soldiers, giving them something to aspire to. A quote from the ceremony, "listen to their stories, look at their medals and you will know these are soldiers who run to the sounds of the gun, putting country first, putting it all on the line for those who stand on the left and the right."

 
His Awards and Decorations are as follows: The Legion of Merit Medal, Distinguished Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak- leaf clusters and the Bronze Star with Valor Device. He had the Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Military Free-Fall Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge. 
 
Something he hasn't gotten a badge or medal for is how dedicated he was to his family. My father instilled his same morals, tenacity, work ethic and bravery in me. He was a survivor. He survived anything the Army threw at him, the death of his 16 year-old son, the death of his wife, and an ongoing battle with chronic lymphoma.