First Responders working with Union School classmate -- JM-- My Heros!

On my way back from Indiana by way of Atlanta yesterday, I was shocked to find out that there were about 6 or so first responders on my flight. They were flying back from Haiti after finishing a 10-day mission. The Captain announced this as we were landing and I just had to figure out who had been in Haiti so that I could thank them and, of course, ask them one million questions...

Turns out, Joe, seated next to me for the whole flight was one of the first responders. I couldn't believe it. Here I was sitting next to a man who had been on the ground in Port-au-Prince for the last 10 days. How I had wished that I had known that when I first sat down.

Anyway, I was able to talk to them for just a bit and here's what I learned.

First of all, they were stationed at my old school in Port-au-Prince -- Union School. They were providing medical treatment to patients on my old soccer field a place now called GHESKIO (see earlier JM Post for details http://heartsandhands4haiti.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-field-update-from-jm-classmate.html).

Joe showed me pictures of the damage to the school, the classrooms, the court yard. It was hard to handle the changes the place had suffered as a result of the earthquake. It was hard to see all of the wounded laid out on the field waiting for treatment.

Then, on a whim, I asked him if he knew Jean Marc? They all nodded yes and told me how helpful Jean Marc had been in getting them fuel and supplies and translating. I looked at them in shock that they knew him, and they looked at me like they couldn't believe what I was asking.

At the end of our conversations, I thanked them for their hard work. It was hard not to cry as I did. For they are true heros.

After our exchange I went to pick up my bags from the baggage claim. As I was waiting, I saw a few children waiting at the bottom of the stairs for a passenger to arrive. I just knew that their dad had been a first responder and had been on the plane. Also, I thought it was Joe because he had skipped passed a few pictures of a couple of beautiful little girls.

After I grabbed my bag, I walked over to the little girl, hook her hand and told her "I'm part Haitian and your dad is the best!". Her eyes went wide, then she jumped up and down and ran to tell her mother what I said. I walked away and headed for a taxi; that's when I cried.