LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The branches of the military often grow from the roots of family. Buffalo natives Kenneth and Eugene Godios are twins and at the age of 88, they think back to their time in the Army. "He had orders cut to go to Germany and I had orders cut to go to France," Kenneth said. "We told them that we wanted to be together, seeing that we're twins, so they changed the orders and we both wound up in France." "I had to keep an eye on him, make sure he behaved. Wasn't an easy task on my part," Eugene said. Kenneth and Eugene Godios, U.S. Army The two brothers, born on Flag Day, knew the soldier's path well before they walked it themselves. "We had several uncles that served in different branches of the service, and fortunately, they all came back in good health," Eugene said. "We had a brother in the Navy for four years, and a brother in the Army served in Germany. So we're very experienced with Army, military life." That military experience is something Dean Godios caught onto at an early age. "I was fortunate enough to be adopted into a family where I had a lot of good male role models, some of whom served in the military," Dean said. "So I think growing up, that was something that I admired to be like." Dean's grandfather and great-uncle taught him confidence. He carried it with him throughout school, and eventually boot camp. "They always seemed to have the answers growing up, so I contributed that to their time spent in the Army," Dean said. "But I had to do a one-up on them and join the Marines." The news of Dean's military interest initially came as a shock to his father, Kevin Godios. "I think there was a lot of shouting going on — a lot of rage and erratic behavior," Kevin said. "Over a very short period of time, I came to realize that he has to make his own decisions." Pictured from left: Eugene, Dean, Kevin and Kenneth Godios Though Kevin isn't a servicemember, he instilled a sense of fortitude in his son that aligns with Marine Corps values. "Growing up and being in the sports that I did, that I was in, and having my dad behind me to push me every step of the way kind of fostered a grit in me — the Marine grit that I felt like I needed to get through to be into the Marine Corps," Dean said. "I'm glad I had my dad backing me all those years." That "Marine grit" is comprised of honor, courage and commitment — something Nate Connors would come to find following in his grandfather's footsteps. "I did a year and a half of college right out of high school. I liked college, I got good grades, but it just didn't really interest me as much as I thought it would," Nate said. "Somebody that I worked with happened to be a Marine reservist. I talked to him a little bit about it and I said that I had a really strong interest in doing the Marine Corps — specifically because of my grandfather. I just kind of wanted to carry on that family legacy." "He talked to me about it but I didn't know he was going to go in," said Nate's grandfather, Bill Connors. "His idea was to get one more stripe than I got. He's made that already — what I had — and he went in with a stripe that I didn't go in with." Bill and Barbara Connors standing outside their home in Sardinia with a flag picturing their grandson, Nate. For the Connors family, military service jumped every other generation. Bill became a Marine in the '60s. "My grandfather was in the service in Spanish America," Bill said. "I spent a year in Cherry Point, N.C., a year at Camp Sukiran in Okinawa, a year at Iwakuni, Japan, and was discharged about three days after Kennedy was shot." Nate is part of the Marine Corps Security Force in Washington. He recently learned he was rising in rank and his grandfather would be the one to go down to DC and pin the promotional stripe. "The stripes on the camos that they wear today, they just pin on the collar," Bill said. "It's quite an honor, something I never expected years ago. He's quite a kid. He makes me really proud." "It meant a lot to me to be able to have him there and have him actually be part of the ceremony," Nate said. "There was definitely some butterflies in the stomach, and I know even my mom said that she was starting to tear up seeing me get promoted, especially by my grandfather." Both the Connors and Godios families represent a legacy of service shaped by the loved ones who came before, carried on by those who answer the call — role models for generations to come. "There's a lot of pride that goes into the Marine Corps," Nate said. "It's special for me to be able to serve in the same branch that my grandfather did." "This country is amazing," Dean said. "I'm honored to serve it and I would do it again if I had to." Latest Local News Watch: Veterans Voices 2024 Astonishing story inspires local company to support veterans A legacy of service: Multigenerational military families in WNY Facility in Clarence connects veterans with rescue horses 14-year-old driver killed in crash at Elmwood, Amherst Jordan Norkus is an anchor who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.