Andris Kalnins

“In Latvia, we have a saying: 'Kur ir kara kliedziena skanējums, tur ir Andris.' Which translates to 'Wherever the sound of the battle cry is heard, there is Andris.' I hope that here in New York, my battle cry can be one of unity and compassion.”

Andris grew up in Riga, Latvia, and moved to New York City to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor. However, after the events of 9/11, he felt a sense of duty to his new home and joined the US Army. He was deployed to Iraq where he saw firsthand the horrors of war and lost several of his comrades. After returning home, he struggled with PTSD but found solace in writing poetry and attending therapy sessions.

What was your scariest moment in Iraq?

One night, we were being ambushed by insurgents and I got separated from my team. I ended up running into a group of enemy combatants. I thought for sure I was going to die, but I managed to take them out with my weapon. It was a moment of pure adrenaline-fueled survival instincts.

What do you miss most about Latvia?

Definitely the food. Especially my mom's cooking. But I also miss the sense of community. In New York, people can be so busy and disconnected from each other. I try to bring a little bit of that Latvian warmth to my interactions with people here.