In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four
minutes.In the midst of utter devastation and chaos, a father left his wife safely at home and
rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the buiding was
as flat as b pancake. After the unforgettably initial shock, he remembered the promise
he had made to his son:"No matter what, I'll always be there for you!"And tears began
to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruims that once was the school,
it looked hopeless, but he kept remember his commitment to his son. He began to direct
his attention towards where he walked his son to class at school each morning.
Remembering his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building; he rushe there
and started digging through the ruins. As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, clutching
their hearts, saying:"My son!""My daughter!" Other well meaning parents tried to pull him off what
was left of the school, saying:"It's too late! They're all dead! You can't help! Go home! Come on!
Face reality, there's nothing you can do!" To each parent he responded with one line:" Are you going
to help me now?" And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up
and tried to pull him off the school's ruins saying, "Fires are breaking out, explosions
are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home." To which this loving,
caring American father asked,"Are you going to help me now?" The police came and said,
"You're angry, anxious, and it's over. You're endangering others. Go home. We'll handle it!"
To which he replied,"Are you going to help me now?"
No one helped. Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know for himself:"
Is my boy alive or is he dead?" Hdug for eight hours...12hours...24hours...36hours...then,
in the 38th hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son's voice. He screamed his
son's name,"ARMAND!" He heard back, "Dad?! It's me, Dad! Itold the other kids not to worry.
I told them that if you wre alive, you'd save me and when you save me, they'd be saved.
You promised, No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you! You did it, Dad!"
"What's going on in there? How is it?" the father asked.
"There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here.
When the building collapsed, it made a triangle, and it saved us."
"Come out, boy!"
"No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, cause I know you'll get me ! No matter what happens, I know
you'll always be there for me!"