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In the midst of the tragedy a hero's story has emerged.  Twenty year old Jeremy Hernandez, a gym staff member accompanying a bus full of kids on a summer field trip, saved 50+ children by his quick actions and refusal to leave any kids on the bus until they were cleared out and safe.  

Hernandez and the kids were traveling on the bus together for a summer field trip traversing the interstate I-35 bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the fateful evening rush hour on Wednesday.

"We were on our way back from the swimming field trip," said Ryan Watkins, one of the youths on the bus to CNN.






"We were riding over the bridge and the bridge collapsed, and we were right on the part where it went down -- where it curved down," he said, describing the collapse of the I-35 bridge near University Avenue.

CNN earlier reported that Watkins "was one of 52 children and nine adults who survived the accident, according to Tony Wagner, president of the local nonprofit social services group (funded by the Pillsbury Corporation) that organized the trip."

Hernandez was interviewed live today on CNN, and told reporters through tears: "You could hear kids like, moaning and crying...they started screaming when we were going into the river... I jumped and opened the back of the door... all the kids were lining up, ...then I was handing kids over....

Hernandez composed himself, and continued: "They were all screaming "we're gonna die.." They didn't want to let go of me, until they saw their parents.."

The quick thinking gym coordinator continued:  "I'm just glad to have been there to help them..."

When asked by reporters what he was thinking, Hernandez said top most in his mind was the thought, "I don't want to die...I didn't want to go into the river."

The reporters asked him to remember the events yesterday after the bus was stopped by the collapse.

According to Hernandez, unknown people rushed up to him to help take the kids from his arms, and all he could remember was picking them up and handing them over, "they're like my brothers and my little sisters, they're part of me..."

Reporters then asked if Hernandez felt lucky, "Lucky that I am alive, and the kids weren't seriously injured.." an emotional Hernandez replied.

Timing was cited by Hernandez, and luck too as he realized they could have easily wound up in the river, yet he stayed put on the bus, as it was teetering on the edge of a possible fall and submersion in the river, until all the kids were off and safe.

Hernandez said was seated in the 2nd seat from back, third seat on the right of the bus.  The bus was lodged to the guard rail, and Hernandez kicked out the door to initiate the rescue.

When asked what it felt like, Hernandez replied: "I felt like we were on a roller coaster ride.."  Describing how his heart was high up in his throat from the fear.

Hernandez told the assembled reporters he couldn't sleep last night, as grateful parents calling him to thank him for his efforts saving their children. More than 50 children were saved by Hernandez.

Mr. Hernandez is no longer available for comment, the response to his heroic acts have overwhelmed him and he just decided to go fishing

No matter creed, race, religion, culture, political association.... I can positively say that NO ONE in this thread doesn't appreciate what this young man did.  Remember that no matter how much you disagree with me or how much I disagree with you, it's people like Jeremy Hernandez that shut us all up and make us just SMILE with gratitude.

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[scroll][glow=darkorchid]~I'm the girl your mother warned you about~[/scroll][/glow]

Great story!  But if that is supposed to be an example of why you believe the way you do, about immigration,.....I don't think you want us to "turn the coin over and look at the other side.."

There are good people of ALL colors, creed and nationality.  Has nothing to do with the debate.

Kelly

Magz, that was a great article. Doesn't stop the ILLEGAL immigration issue one bit. Even if he WAS an illegal, which the article didn't state - to the best of my knowledge.

What that shows is a tremendous young man of mexican heritage. Nobody's saying that mexicans aren't honorable or decent. Not as a race! And I'd be the first to jump down their a$$ if they DID say such a stupid thing!

Good job knightshow!  Basically what I was trying to say.  You did a better job.

Kelly

Umm, I think Magz posted that to counter what Blue put down with the criminal posting at her town with Mexican gang. Ironically, I agree with you two 100%. The crime of anyone should not be the discussion of immigration. Someone else brought it up first.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

In Magz defense I could sense she is wrestling with an issue that at this time in history affects her heritage. (as we all are) In real life we could have had a personal discussion and exchanged ideas and made friends. Everybody maybe I more than others turned it into a head bash It is a very emotional subject for the ones that deal with it daily and yes wrestle with it. When ICE raided the swift beef plant here and hauled off fathers (although illegal, some with stolen identities) I was once again put in the position of not knowing whether to cry or cheer.

A debate on this one incident could not be resolved without discussing many facets. It cannot  be reduced to racism or economics. That is assinine. You must consider family values children impact on fellow church members and the role of the pastor (yes religion) . And many many other factors which you are not going to google. To reduce it to a debate without considering it as a crisis which is affecting many on both sides is selfish. It could have been a huge schism but the mayor helped pastors helped counselors helped and adults with a deep knowledge and love for children kept the damage to a minimum.

Magz I will apologize for my outbursts (common frustrations between two people tend to bring out other frustrations also, very often related) and I do hope you did get some answers or new thoughts about it I know damn well a light bulb didnt go off in your head



PS If you learned something or had a big revelation in that other thread that I didnt please let me know what it was.....

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You know, I read this, and was staying out of it. (for the most obvious of reasons) But since that *reason* decided to say this thread was all due to

Ben, in the other thread, we were dicussing Mexican immigrants. Of course anything I post there is going to be in direct relation to Mexican immigrants. You wanted "facts", I posted some links pertaining to my area. And, yes, one is on Mexican gangs moving into my neighborhood.

Nowhere did I say "all mexicans are bad people", or that there are not good among them. That was a very neat article, of a very heroic person. But, the kind and brave acts of that one good person... does not... excuse illegal immigrants.

I have mexican friends, such good friends that if I needed them, all I would need to do is call and ask and they'd be at my side. And yes Ben, they speak spanish and celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and they are still yet my friends.

If I have offended you, or Magz, personally, with my original posts in "the wall thread", that was not my intention. I will apologize (in case I did), even knowing that nothing I said should have offended either of you.

But I'm not going to sit by and let you try to demean my opinion just because it differs with yours. Screw facts... I don't NEED facts to back an "opinion". There are too many illegals here, costing our government what is, to me, too much money. Like it or lump it, my opinion is shared by many.

So don't use that "she posted this article cause Blue says all Mexicans are criminals" frame of mind, cause you're way off base.

Unless you are an alien immigrant, here working illegally and living off of free government money that is being taken from American citizens... then nobody is talking about YOU. Nor is anyone talking about the young man who rescued all those kids.

I backed off of this conversation in the other thread, kindly leave my name out of it.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Actually I have to disagree with this Ollie.  While this is a very emotional issue, I think it was handled VERY well by all.  Even in the debate programs we've all seen there're similar bouts of short-lived exchanges where frustration and a degree of ad hom attack find their way in, but I think that thread went EXTREMELY smoothly, and I don't think I've ever seen an exchange where ALL that wished to participate stated how they felt in an essentially non-moderated topic discussion area involving ALL ages, many locations, and quite honestly,  given THAT many back and forth posts I've never seen debates go any smoother in such a setting.  I thought it was amazing ! And, there was a decent percentage of info exchanged. We ALL got to see a part of each other aside from flirtatious exchange and Karaoke.  I think this thread will bring quite a few closer despite disagreements because quite honestly,  I didn't see any radical disagreement, just people chatting about something they genuinely had some degree of opinion on.  Seems healthy to me.

To think people won't feel misunderstood at some point is just wishful thinking.  I really enjoyed seeing an exchange go well that deviated from Karaoke, and didn't involve terms such as Rank, Critique, etc.

JMHO

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Ok, I have a lot of respect for you but somehow you are reading between the lines of my postings.  What I was referring to was the posting Kellyoke made at the top:



What I was saying is that since you posted the other article, Magz posted this article as the other side of the story. I never mentioned that you were a racist or your article was racist. All I did was to point out the counterpoint she made to your post. Geesh, is everything I say under scrutiny so that I can't even point out the posting without being labeled that I am pointing fingers? You are, have been, reading way too much in to what I write and jumping to conclusions way too fast. Remember, never assume anything because, you know the rest....  I am not attacking your personal beliefs. I never did, I never will. Stop being so defensive.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Steven, well put. It could have been ugly. I have seen forums where there is no hold bar policy and you don't want to know what type of things are said in there. I thought everyone was civil and at least some of us were courteous. I thought people stayed with their own thoughts without calling other person a name, label or just some expletive.

I think it's healthy to have discussion like this where passionate people can express their thoughts without name calling.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

,  After years of moderating debate venues over on America Online you'd be surprised what I know  :shock:    This is why I like it here.   If *they* try to find me, and get me in here,  I'll press the panic button under my desk, and Phill and Jian will intercept them  :shock:   Anyway,  I graduated from America Online after over 10 years of schooling and I got my PhD  (that's an acronymn for "Pin headed dope" when you've studied at AOL)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

it could have been  a lot worse In real life I have councelled vets with PTSD Young people regard me as a grandfather figure and pick my mind about the old ways and ask counsel. I approached or entered that thread with a belly full of beer ans was talking to a little avatar. I articulated sometimes incapacitated to a young frustrated person asking for opinions. As a professional and  an elder I did not conduct myself like I do in real life. I erred. I apologized.

While it is true one can walk 3 feet from the computer and forget most of whats going on here I could with that thread...This is a quasi fantasy land but there is a real person behind that avatar. I am psychic and I actually felt karma exchanges with some posts and responses.

I might go back to that little avatar and horse around like in a chat room in harmless fun but right now I am Ollie

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This was the MOST real I've seen people in the 2+ years I've been here.  A radical change from the "You are a 9.8 rank singer dude" type behaviour seen in a location that's name will remain undisclosed.  This is a "type" of real.  While aspects can be a quasi fantasyland, it's great to SEE that those I've exchanged almost 10K posts with (regardless of whether or not they've read more than 4 of those 10K posts) have interests and abilities that go beyond "Karaoke".

JMO

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I guess I'm just confused...

Are we arguing, or are we not?



.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Maybe!! When I pick myself up off the floor  LOL

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Just..... gimme some of what you're having, and I'll join ya there on the floor. These other guys n' gals can settle the debate;)



.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Can you laugh uncontrolably and cry at the same time?

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Are you talking to ME?

Cause yeah, I sure can. (both standing up AND laying on the floor)  LOL

.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

And do you realize Love does not keep a record of wrongs It has no limits is the greatest power and Love is the greatest healer of all time and is eternal?

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Yes.



I don't know which is scaring me more.  Thinking about you breaking into an England Dan and John Ford Coley song, or requesting a group hug !

.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".