A Steady Beat of Resilience and Leadership Rock Drummer Earns Military Child Honor
When Noelani Martinez pounds out a rhythm on her drum set, she’s not thinking about anything — she’s just jamming. But the teen has plenty to think about. The Brennan High School senior is the beat behind San Antonio’s School of Rock House Band and the recipient of the Military Child of the Year award from the Air Force.
“It’s amazing to be able to make friends from various places in the world and share our experiences,” she said of her life as an Air Force “brat.” But the Martinez family suffered a devastating loss: Noelani’s mother, Gail, was killed, and she and her siblings were severely injured during an April 2016 terrorist bombing of the Brussels, Belgium, airport. At just 9 years old, Noelani was the one comforting her siblings as they awakened from comas.
Martinez and six other children of service members were honored by the nonprofit Operation Homefront in April 2024 for embodying strength, resiliency, and service. The year before their nominations, the six performed over 3,500 hours of volunteer service, and Martinez herself earned top accolades for ROTC leadership, was part of a first-place winning drill team, and is in the top 2% of her graduating class. Noelani’s father, retired Colonel Melchizedek “Kato” Martinez, spent 29 years in special operations and tactical communications roles. Due to his career, Noelani and her three siblings have traveled the world, calling places as varied as the Netherlands and Hawaii home.
Summing up his daughter’s strength in the face of adversity, her father said, “She continues to bear both the physical and emotional scars of that tragic day, but rather than allow it to defeat her, she uses the pain to fight on and honor her mother’s love.” In an interview with an Ohio TV station, Noelani said she hopes the Child of the Year honor illuminates the challenges of military family life, particularly the frequent household moves that require starting over again and again. Her advice to other military kids is, “Give yourself grace” to get through the challenging parts.
A PARALEGAL WHO PUTS PEOPLE FIRST Meet Ketevan Mamuliia A real human story is at the heart of every case we see at The Manely Firm. Our team cares deeply about our clients’ journeys, and Paralegal Ketevan Mamuliia is a perfect example of that dedication. Ketevan’s role goes far beyond just paperwork — she’s deeply involved in the lives of those we serve, turning their life stories into documents that can change their futures. understanding. With her multilingual background, she was a perfect fit for our international law firm. For her, being an excellent paralegal requires being human. It takes deep respect for others and a willingness to understand their situation.
Ketevan said each case she works on gives her hope in humanity, even though litigation can bring out the very worst in people. “All the darkness or the ugliness comes out, but at the end of the journey, people still learn to forgive, learn, grow, and move on,” she said. “The most rewarding thing is to see them letting go of all the pain and ugliness and deciding to live their best of future.” When Ketevan isn’t helping clients at the firm, she loves spending time with her niece and nephew because children give you a different perspective on life. Ketevan is proud to work at a firm where each team member cares deeply about their work and the clients they serve. She’s looking forward to continuing to grow with us, and we are so honored to have her in our office.
“It’s the stories of their lives that interest me, and I’m honored to be a part of their stories,” she said. “Certain chapters may not be the most beautiful and exciting, but they teach us both about life and relationships.” Ketevan has always been interested in sharing the human experience and was drawn to the legal profession because she wanted to help guide people through difficult times. She said starting her career as a paralegal required a lot of flexibility, open- mindedness, and courage to grow. “It’s a very fast-moving position, and we’re dealing with people and a lot of emotions,” she said. Ketevan joined The Manely Firm in 2022 and was instantly drawn to its commitment to helping families navigate challenging legal issues with compassion and
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