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[Central Texas Floods Service Recognition Ceremony on October 16, 2025]
YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS MORNING.WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF A SPECIAL GROUP OF HFD.
SORRY ABOUT THAT SPECIAL GROUP OF HFD VOLUNTEERS.
WE HONOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO NOT ONLY SERVE OUR CITY, BUT WHO STEP FORWARD WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST.
THIS SUMMER, TEXAS MADE WORLDWIDE NEWS WHEN ITS RENTAL STORM FLOODED OUT THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRIES ON JULY 4TH.
A DAY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY OF CELEBRATION WAS NOT A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR DOZENS OF FAMILIES.
THE GUADALUPE RIVER SURGED NEARLY 30 FEET CREATING DISASTER CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONSIDERED THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER IN TEXAS HISTORY.
WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE, MORE THAN 135 LOST LIVES, INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN AT SUMMER.
IN THE MOMENTS, HOURS, DAYS, AND MONTHS FOLLOWING THE STORMS, LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS WERE OVERWHELMED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WHEN THESE CALLS STARTED COMING IN, I REACHED OUT TO OUR MAYOR, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
WITHOUT HESITATION, HE SAID YES, DO WHAT'S GOTTA BE DONE.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT HOD HAS THE BEST SEARCH AND RESCUE GROUP IN THE COUNTRY AS WE DEPLOYED MULTIPLE CREWS AS SOON AS THE REQUEST CAME IN.
AS FORMAL EFFORTS ARE BEING SPUN UP, VOLUNTEERS WILL ALSO YEARNING TO HELP.
THAT'S WHAT THIS GROUPS OF FIRE, THIS, THIS IS WHERE THESE GROUPS OF FIREFIGHTERS COME IN TODAY.
THEY PACKED THEIR GEAR, THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR HEARTS, AND THEY WENT READY TO HELP STRANGERS AS IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN FAMILY ON THEIR OWN TIME, THEIR EXPENSE.
THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM SET OUT FOR CURRENT HUNT COUNTY TO USE THEIR SKILLS.
WHERE THEY WERE NEEDED TOGETHER WAS A SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG.
THESE VOLUNTEERS SCOUR BED RIVER BEDS, ROADS, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE THEY COULD REACH WORKING TO IDENTIFY REMAINS AND PROVIDE DIGNITY, HONOR, AND POSSIBLY CLOSURE FOR THOSE WHO LOST WERE LOST TO THE FAMILIES IN THIS ROOM.
TODAY, DISASTER KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
FLOOD WATERS DON'T STOP AT CITY LINES AND NEITHER DOES COMPASSION.
WHETHER IT'S HERE OR HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY, OUR FIREFIGHTERS STAND READY GUIDING OUT BY WHERE THEIR NEED IS.
OUR WHY IS SIMPLE, YET PROFOUND.
IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE, ABOUT FAMILIES WHO ARE HURTING, ABOUT LIVES THAT NEED SAVING AND COMMUNITIES SEARCHING FOR HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS LOST.
FAMILIES, PLEASE KNOW WE GRIEVE WITH YOU.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I SAW THAT FROM THE VERY TOP OF THE LEADERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER STARTING.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT OURS SAID HE WAS HURTING AND YOUR PAIN, AS I SAID, IS OUR PAIN AND YOUR STRENGTH INSPIRES US TO KEEP SERVING AND SHOWING UP AND BELIEVING IN THE POWER OF COMPASSION TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, YOUR KNOWLEDGE, AND YOUR HEARTS.
YOU REMIND US THAT TRUE SERVICE HAS NO BORDERS.
AND EVEN THE WORSE OUR TIMES, OUR WHY WILL ALWAYS LEAD US TO THE LIGHT.
OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS COMES THROUGH A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH LABOR.
I'M PROUD OF THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH LOCAL 3 41 AND MARTY LANGTON AND THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TOGETHER IN HFD, OUR WORLD CAST DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE WELCOME PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON LOCAL 3 41 PROFESSIONALS FIRE, UH, FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, MARTY LANGTON.
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SEE ALL OF THE FAMILIES HERE TODAY IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITH THE MAYOR, WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.YOU KNOW, IN TIMES WORST TRAGEDIES, WE SEE THE BEST IN HUMANITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN ALL OF THE POLITICAL SPEAK, ALL THE DIFFICULTIES FADE AWAY AND WE SEE WHAT HUMANITY IS AND WHAT HUMANITY'S WILLING TO DO TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO BE THERE FOR PEOPLE ON THEIR WORST DAY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOTORIOUS AT NOT VERY GOOD AT ASKING FOR HELP.
OUR JOB IS TO GO OUT THERE AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE THERE ON PEOPLE'S WORST DAY.
WHAT I WOULD BE REMISS, AS I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY, AS MOST OF THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT I'VE TALKED, TALKED TO OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS AND SHARED THEIR STORIES, THEY DIDN'T WANT RECOGNITION.
IN FACT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO ACT.
THEY DIDN'T DO IT FOR RECOGNITION.
THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS IN THEIR HEART AND THEY THOUGHT TO THEMSELVES AND MANY OF THEM TOLD ME, IF THIS WAS MY FAMILY, WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE? AND SO WITH THAT, UH, TO MAKE THEM FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE AT EASE, I TELL THEM, REMEMBER THE FIRST PHONE CALL JENNY EDDEN HAD WITH ME AND THAT FIRST PHONE CALL, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE IMMENSE SORROW THAT YOU ALL AND ALL THE FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH.
I REMEMBERED I ASKED HER, I SAID, HOW IS IT LOOKING AROUND YOU? HOW ARE YOU FEELING? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A VERY ODD QUESTION, VERY DIFFICULT THING TO ANSWER, BUT HER RESPONSE WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER.
AND SHE SAID, THE HOUSE IS QUIET AND IT WILL BE MY MISSION TO LET THE WORLD KNOW WHAT YOUR FIREFIGHTERS DID FOR OUR FAMILIES.
AND TO WHICH I SAID, YES MA'AM.
SO WE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE FAMILIES, EVEN IN YOUR GRIEF AND YOUR SORROW, YOU ARE HERE TO HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIDN'T SET OUT TO BE RECOGNIZED.
AND FOR THAT WE WANNA SAY WELCOME TO THE FIREFIGHTER FAMILY.
WE LOVE YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS.
AS I STATED, OUR FORMAL DEPLOYMENT TO CENTRAL TEXAS STARTED ON JULY 4TH AND CONTINUES UP TO THIS DATE.
WE STILL HAVE MEMBERS ASSISTING WITH COORDINATION AS PART OF THE TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE AND TUSS OPERATIONS.
AND AS I STATED BEFORE, THIS WHOLE TIME, WE'VE HAD THE FULL SUPPORT OF MAYOR WHITMEYER WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
THANK YOU CHIEF MARTY, IT IS SO COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CHIEF THAT IS A MAN OF FAITH BECAUSE WE NEED OUR FAITH THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS WHO IS A PASTOR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, PASTOR DAVIS.
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PECK TWILA CARTER.
THE RESPECT THAT THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING IS, IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE YOU SEE, WE'VE USED THIS LEGACY ROOM FOR VERY DIVERSE EVENTS, KIND OF BRINGS US TOGETHER.
IT RECOGNIZES BY ITS NAME LEGACY THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE SPECIAL EVENT THAN WE'RE HAVING THIS MORNING BECAUSE SINCE THE TRAGEDY IN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF THE FAMILIES, CERTAINLY JENNY AND DOUG ELLEN.
HOW DO I AS THE MAYOR, PROPERLY EXPRESS THE UNITY THAT THE TRAGEDY EXHIBITED BY BRINGING US TOGETHER? THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY.
I TRAVEL IT REGULARLY, BUT YOUR LOSS
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AND THIS TRAGEDY BROUGHT HOUSTON TOGETHER.SO I HAD A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I TALKED TO JENNY AND SHE SAID IT WOULD BE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAMILIES TO COME TOGETHER AND THANK THESE FIRST RESPONDERS.
YOU KNOW, GOD DOES NOT ALLOW US TO CHOOSE WHEN WE LOSE A LOVED ONE, OUR LOVED ONES, OUR FRIENDS, BUT HE ALLOWS US TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND EXHIBIT OUR LOVE FOR OUR LOVED ONES.
WE'VE USED THIS ROOM FOR EARLY HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PURPOSES, BUT TODAY IS IS SPECIAL.
WE NEEDED THIS IN THE TURMOIL OF TODAY'S WORLD.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE OUR LOSS AND ALSO KNOW THE SUN ROSE THIS MORNING AND THAT WE ARE GONNA SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
I STAND READY AND THE CITY STANDS READY TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO ASSIST YOUR FAMILIES GOING FORWARD.
AND IT STARTS TODAY BY RECOGNIZING YOUR HEROES.
AND SO EVERYONE KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT HOUSTON FIRE AND OUR POLICE AND OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
I CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT PICK UP DEBRIS AFTER A STORM, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
BUT FOR YOU, YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME.
AND DOUG WAS ON THE PHONE AND TELL ME HOW, WHEN YOUR HEART WAS ON FIRE THAT WEEKEND, I BELIEVE IT WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON I SPOKE TO YOU, YOU JUST, IT WOULD BE SUCH A MOMENT OF HEALING TO RECOGNIZE THESE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WENT BEYOND THEIR CALL OF DUTY.
SO LADIES, GENTLEMEN, THE CITY THANKS YOU ALL, 2.3 MILLION OF US.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION, YOUR LOVE OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND AS THE CHIEF AND MARTY'S MENTIONED IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED.
SO LET'S SHARE OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER THIS MORNING.
OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO HELP OTHERS LEAVE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN THE ONE WE FOUNDED.
AND UH, ELLEN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS TO DO A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND I STARTED BACK AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE THE TOUGHEST THING YOU EVER HAVE TO DO IN YOUR LIFE, BUT YOU WERE BEAMING THAT PERSONALITY AND INTELLECT WHEN I GOT HERE.
SO I'M GONNA YIELD MY TIME TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND JUST SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU JENNY AND DOUG FOR BEING THE FACE OF THE FAMILIES THAT I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH.
AT THIS TIME, MAYOR WHITMAR, MARTY AND I WILL CALL EACH OF THE VOLUNTEERS TO STAGE TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION.
WHEN WE CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE ENTER FROM THE RAMP TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE AND PROCESS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE.
AFTER A QUICK PHOTO WALK, HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ON THIS DATE, THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026 TO FIREFIGHTER, FIREFIGHTER JENNIFER GARZA FOR HER DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE FAMILIES AND VICTIMS OF THE MASSIVE CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODS IN JULY OF 2025, SIGNED MARY JOHN WHITMEYER.
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NOW WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER TYLER GRAFF, ALSO RECEIVING THE CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE FOR HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE FAMILIES AND VICTIMS OF THE MASSIVE CENTRAL FLOODS IN JULY OF 2025.CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ON THIS DAY, THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 TO ENGINEER OPERATOR SARAH C THANK YOU CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ON THIS DAY, THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 TO ENGINEER OPERATOR RUBEN JOHNSON.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ON THIS DAY, 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 TO CAPTAIN ALEXANDER ESKI CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ON THIS DAY, THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025, TWO CAPTAIN MICHAEL WHITE.
NOW THE VOLUNTEERS IN HD FIREFIGHTERS HAVE SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE FAMILIES IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
CAN I PLEASE HAVE CAPTAIN ESKY? GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CAPTAIN ALEXANDER ALEXANDER ODESKI, ASSIGNED TO ENGINE COMPANY 58 FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE A SPEECH AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT RESPONDED.
FRED ROGERS FROM THE BELOVED TV SHOW.
ONCE SAID, WHEN I WAS A BOY, I WOULD SEE SCARY THINGS IN THE NEWS AND MY MOTHER WOULD SAY TO ME, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS.
YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING.
THE EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED ON JULY, 2025 IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WERE NO EXCEPTION.
AND THE CALL FOR HELP CAME FROM AREA OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
WE ANSWERED CALL TO ASSIST OUR FELLOW TEXANS WHEN WE ARRIVED.
THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF DESTRUCTION WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING.
HISTORIC CYPRESS STREETS THAT STOOD TALL FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS SNAPPED LIKE TOOTHPICKS, PERSONAL BELONGINGS SCATTERED EVERYWHERE WITH EACH THEIR OWN IDENTITY TO BEAR.
VEHICLE SMASHED BEYOND RECOGNITION AND BEAR FOUNDATIONS THAT ONCE SUPPORTED A FAMILY'S HOME AND THE SCATTERED REMAINS OF THE WALLS THAT HELD THEIR STORIES.
IT WAS INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING, YET ALMOST TOO EASY TO FEEL DOUBT THAT A ONCE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY COULD EVER REBUILD AGAIN.
BUT WHAT GAVE HOPE WAS SEEING THE MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE HELPING.
IT WAS TRULY AMAZING TO WORK ALONGSIDE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT INCLUDED OFF DUTY AND RETIRED FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, EVEN CIVILIANS, MANY OF THEM BEING RESIDENTS OF THE HUNT.
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BUT A VERY SPECIAL FEW WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAD A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH ONE OF THE MISSING.EACH STORY WE HEARD WAS MOTIVATION TO GET TO WORK AND THEN CLEAR AS MANY AREAS AS WE COULD POSSIBLY, AS MUCH AS OUR BODIES AND MIND COULD TAKE.
I SAW FIRSTHAND VOLUNTEERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WORKING THROUGH FATIGUE AND INJURY AND NOT ONCE DID THEY EVER QUIT.
I'M TRULY PROUD OF EVERYONE HERE FROM THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT ANSWERED THE CALL TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE RECOVERY MISSION AND PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION YOU CHOSE TO SHARE WITH US.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE TRULY SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.
THE INCREDIBLE LIVES THAT EACH LIVE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US TO LIVE MORE FULLY, TO HOLD OUR LOVED ONES CLOSER AND TO FIND STRENGTH AND THE FAITH OF SORROW FOR US.
THEIR MEMORY SERVES AS A LASTING REMINDER OF WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE DO, AND MOTIVATES US TO GO EVERY DAY TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN OUR DUTIES AS FIREFIGHTERS.
I PROMISE YOU THIS, THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING TO MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND OUR FIRE CHIEF FOR HONORING AND O HONORING AND HOSTING US TO MARTY TON, THE HOUSTON PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT AND MONETARY DONATIONS FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL GIFTS.
UH, TO THE HUNT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH AERIAL RECOVERY AND TASK FORCE CHASE FOR TAKING US ON IN THE OFFICIAL CAPACITY, PROVIDING OPERATIONAL COMMAND STRUCTURE, COMMUNICATIONS, EQUIPMENT, HEAVY MACHINERY, SUPPLIES AND LODGING SO WE COULD DO OUR JOB SAFELY AND METHODICALLY TO FIREFIGHTER TJ GRAFF FOR CRAFTING EACH SHADOW BOX BY HAND AND WORKING WITH THE JAMES AVERY JEWELRY COMPANY FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL PERSONALIZED PENDANTS TO ALL HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS THAT RESPONDED BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR OWN FAMILIES TO WHOM WITHOUT YOUR LOVE, WISDOM AND SUPPORT, WE COULD NOT DO THIS JOB.
NOW WE COULD HAVE, UH, JENNY, PLEASE COME UP TO THE STAGE PLEASE AND GWEN AS WELL.
MY NAME IS JENNY EDDEN AND I AM ELLEN AND GWEN'S MOM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE BOTH ATTENDING CAMP MYSTIC ON JULY 4TH, 2025.
I AM HERE ALSO REPRESENTING 10 OF THE HEAVENS, 27 FAMILIES, INCLUDING THE FAMILIES OF MARGARET BELLOWS, CHLOE CHILDRESS, MOLLY DEWITT, LUCY DYLAN, CATHERINE FARO, MARY KATE JACOBY, LAINEY LANDRY BLAKELY, MCC, MARGARET CHEY, AND GRETA TORONTO.
THANK YOU TO MAYOR WHITMEYER FIRE CHIEF MUNOZ AND ALL THE FIREFIGHTER VOLUNTEERS.
MY FAMILY WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO FIREFIGHTER TYLER GRAFF, CAPTAIN MICHAEL WHITE AND THEIR FRIEND TIM LEBLANC ON JULY 20TH.
THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS.
WHEN THEY FOUND MY DAUGHTER ELLEN'S CROCK ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER BANK, THE CROCK STILL HAD HER NAME INSIDE OF IT, SO THEY FOUND HER NAME AN OBITUARY ONLINE AND FOUND OUT WHAT SCHOOL SHE ATTENDED.
JOHN'S SCHOOL WHO PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS.
TYLER, MICHAEL, AND TIM ALL CAME TO MY HOME TO PRESENT A SHADOW MEMORY BOX TO DOUG GWEN AND ME.
ALL OF THESE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TRULY HEROES AND THEIR KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
THEY LEFT THEIR FAMILIES AND SACRIFICED THEIR PTO AND SICK TIME TO GO FIND OUR GIRLS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WAS MISSING AND WE WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO THEM.
THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES AND SAW THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT UNSEE AND THEY EXPECTED NOTHING IN RETURN.
THESE FIRST RESPONDERS FELT THE CALL OF DUTY TO FIND OUR GIRLS WHEN THE CAMP WHO IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THEM SAFE, FAILED THEM.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND WHEN WE CONTINUE TO PRAY, THAT SEAL STEWARD WILL BE FOUND.
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AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FLOOD.EVEN THOUGH I'M ONLY 12, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH MORE THAN MOST 30 YEAR OLDS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OKAY AND I WANT, I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT I ENDURED ON JULY 4TH AND THE AFTERMATH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SO SCARY AND HORRIBLE.
THE ONLY THING THAT MADE ME FEEL SAFE WAS THAT THERE ARE FIREFIGHTERS SEARCHING FOR MY SISTER.
YOUR KIND HEARTS MADE A LIGHT FLICKER IN IN THE DARK DARKNESS.
AND I'M SO TOUCHED THAT PEOPLE WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT.
AND I HOPE THAT, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY MADE EVERYONE'S LIGHTS START TO SHINE.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR BRAVERY.
I WANT EVERYONE WATCHING TO BE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE AMAZING FIRST RESPONDERS OUT THERE AND I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL SAFE INSIDE AND OUT.
ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TYLER GRAFF, FIREFIGHTER TYLER GRAFF FOR CONSTRUCTING EACH OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BOXES AND WORKING WITH THE JAMES AVERY, UM, JEWELRY COMPANY.
THE JAMES AVERY JEWELRY COMPANY DONATED THE HEART OF THE HILLS PENDANT AND CHAIN, EACH ONE ENGRAVED WITH THE GIRL'S NAME ON IT.
I ASKED THAT MY FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST ME WITH PASSING OUT THE BOXES.
I'M GONNA CALL OUT THE NAMES ONE AT A TIME AND I'LL ASK THE FAMILIES TO PLEASE COME UP AND ACCEPT THE BOX ON THE BEHALF BEHALF OF THE DAUGHTER CHLOE CHILDRESS.
SO MARGARET BELLOWS, YOU, MARGARET SHADY.
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LANEY LANDRY SEAL STEWARD.I BELIEVE THE DEN FAMILY WAS GOING TO ACCEPT A BOX ON THEIR BEHALF.
MACQUARIE, MOLLY DEAL WITH ELLEN GETTEN.
THANK YOU MS. GIT AND GLEN, TRULY THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH WORDS FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
I'VE SEEN BRAVERY, I'VE SEEN HARD TIMES AND TODAY I SAW A LITTLE GIRL THAT MADE A PROFOUND STATEMENT TODAY.
HARDEST THING, IT'S NOT IN THE SCRIPT, BUT ON BEHALF MYSELF, MARY WHITMEYER AND AND MARTY LANGTON.
ONE OF YOU COULD COME UP PLEASE.
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WHEN WE UM, WHEN WE, I WAS BLESSED TO BE ANNOUNCED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER, WE HAD MADE A COMMITMENT WORLD CLASS, RIGHT? SO THAT CAME OUR FIRST COIN EVER.IT'S A COIN OF EXCELLENCE THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US FOR THE BRAVERY YOU'VE SHOWN.
TO CLOSE OUT, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR CHAPLAIN, TYLER HICKS, TO LEAD IN PRAYER.
I SERVE AS THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH GIVING THIS BEEN ADDICTION.
AS I WAS PRAYING AND SEEKING GOD FOR THIS MOMENT HERE TODAY, HE PRESSED UPON MY HEART A SCRIPTURE FROM PAUL WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI, WHERE HE STATES, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
I'M NOT GOING TO FOR ONE SECOND TODAY, PERSONALLY ATTEMPT TO RELATE TO WHAT EACH OF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH AT THIS.
WHETHER IT BE WHAT YOU RESPONDED TO OR WHO YOU'VE LOST, I HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO SO.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SHARE THE WORDS OF SOMEONE WHO I BELIEVE EXPERIENCED THE SITUATIONS EACH OF YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN TODAY, AND HOW HIS RESPONSE CAN ONLY BE EXPLAINED BY THE PEACE OF GOD.
LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, I LEARNED ABOUT A MAN NAMED HORATIO SPAFFORD IN THE 1870S.
SPAFFORD WAS A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER AND SENIOR PARTNER OF HIS FIRM IN CHICAGO, A MAN OF MEANS AND DEEP FAITH.
HE WAS ALSO A CLOSE FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF THE GREAT EVANGELIST DL MOODY.
THEIR FAMILIES WERE SO CLOSE THAT STAFFER'S PLANNED A TRIP TO ENGLAND TO HEAR MOODY PREACH.
AND AT THE LAST MOMENT, HORATIO HAD TO STAY BEHIND TO HANDLE URGENT BUSINESS, SENDING HIS WIFE AND FOUR DAUGHTERS AHEAD.
ON NOVEMBER 22ND, 1873, TRAGEDY STRUCK THE SHIP CARRYING HIS FAMILY COLLIDED WITH THE IRON SA SAILING VESSEL AND SAN IN MINUTES 226 SOULS PERISHED, INCLUDING ALL FOUR OF STAFFER'S DAUGHTERS.
HIS WIFE ANNA WAS FOUND LATER REACHING WELLS WHERE SHE SENT A HEARTBREAKING TELEGRAM THAT SIMPLY STATED, SAVED ALONE.
HORATIO IMMEDIATELY BOARDED THE NEXT SHIP TO BE WITH HER DAYS INTO THE VOYAGE, THE CAPTAIN SUMMONED HIM TO THE DECK TO SEE THE AREA WHERE THE SHIP WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE GONE DOWN, STANDING OVER THE WATERS THAT CLAIMED HIS CHILDREN.
SPAFFORD RETURNED TO HIS CABIN AND BEGAN TO WRITE THE WORDS THAT WILL BECOME ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST BELOVED HEMPS.
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL, A TIMELESS DECORATION OF PEACE AMID SUFFERING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THOSE WORDS WITH YOU NOW AS OUR BENEDICTION TODAY.
WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENDETH MY WAY WHEN SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLE, WHATEVER MY LOT THOU HAS TAUGHT ME TO SAY IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
THOUGH SATAN SHOULD BUFFET THOUGH TRIALS SHOULD COME.
LET THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE CONTROL THAT CHRIST HATH REGARDED MY HELPLESS ESTATE AND HAD SHED HIS OWN BLOOD FOR MY SOUL, MY SIN OF THE BLISS OF THIS GLORIOUS THOUGHT.
MY SIN NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE IS NAILED TO THE CROSS AND I BEAR IT NO MORE.
PRAISE THE LORD OH MY SOUL FOR ME.
IF JORDAN ABOVE ME SHALL ROLL, NO PAIN SHALL BE MINE FOR IN DEATH AS IN LIFE THAT WILL WHISPER THY PEACE TO MY SOUL.
AND LORD HATES THE DAY WHEN THE FAITH SHALL BE SIGHT, THE CLOUDS BE ROLLED BACK AS A SCROLL.
THE TRUMP SHALL RESOUND AND THE LORD SHALL DESCEND EVEN SO IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
I DO NOT KNOW HOW GOD BROUGHT HORATIO TO THAT PLACE OTHER THAN I BELIEVE THAT HORATIO SOUGHT GOD'S PRESENCE EVEN AMIDST HIS SUFFERING.
AND SO MY PRAYER FOR YOU THIS MORNING IS THAT YOU WILL SEEK HIM THROUGH ALL THE PAIN, THROUGH ALL THE HURT.
I WANT SO BADLY FOR IT TO NOT HURT FOR YOU TO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ALONG THE WAY.
BUT I KNOW THAT GOD IS MOVING AND WORKING THROUGH IT ALL.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO PRAY WITH ME.
I FATHER, MY PRAYER IS TWOFOLD THIS MORNING.
AS I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO THESE TRAGIC EVENTS AND THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES THROUGHOUT THESE TRAGIC EVENTS,
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I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT AND GUIDE AND BLESS JUST THEIR MINDS, THEIR BODIES, THEY THEIR SOULS IN THE DAYS TO COME.FATHER, I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD TURN TO YOU AND NOT FROM YOU.
LORD, I'M GRATEFUL THAT I CAN COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE ONE WHO HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH.
DEATH AND TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT HAVE THE FINAL SAY BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE.
AND SO MAY WE LOOK TO HIM IN ALL THAT WE DO.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THIS MORNING TO BE HERE, TO JUST BE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND COMFORT ONE ANOTHER.
AND WE PRAY THAT YOU BE WITH US MOVING FORWARD.
I ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S NAME.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM TO THE FAMILIES.
PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR HFD DOORS ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE OPEN FOR YOU.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMORE FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS US TO SHOW THE COMPASSION.
SO AT THIS POINT WE'RE GONNA HAVE REFRESHMENTS OUT IN THE BACK OF THE LEGACY ROOM AND TO TAKE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES.