A Stone’s Throw by K. Irene Stone

We honor our heroes on Memorial Day, and this year’s remembrance is no different.  We thank those who selflessly gave their lives for their country.  They are our heroes.  We thank those who came back alive after their service.  They are heroes too.  Their service inspires us.  And they tell the stories of the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Here in Uvalde, we are seeing new heroes – younger heroes.  The boys and girls who came back alive from a face-to-face meeting with Evil, the children of Robb Elementary School, are heroes.  Now I have heard people say these children will never be the same.  They shake their heads and sadly comment that the children will be crippled with anxiety and terrors for the rest of their lives.  They will be defined by this horrific event and suffer PSTD.  There is no doubt that counseling will play a role in their recovery.  And of course, we are sad and anxious for them too. We empathize with their traumatic experience. 

So how do we handle this situation?  How do we and our children rise above it?  The whole reality of it brings to mind something that happened on the hit drama, “Yellowstone.”  I’ll paraphrase it here.  The youngest Dutton member, Tate, (11?) saved his Native American mother, Monica, from a violent intruder in their home when the entire Dutton family was being attacked.  Tate had a rifle, which he used to defend his mom.  Afterwards, he was terrified of the violence of the event.  No one could help him.  He refused to eat, hid under his bed, would not go to school.  His strong Anglo father, Kayce, and his dominant grandfather, John, could not help him.  Finally, Monica’s father took him to a sweat lodge for a cleansing and healing ceremony.  There were Native American men who had served their country, and were considered warriors, conducting the ceremony, which was pretty intense.  Afterwards, Kayce could not believe the change in Tate, who was calm, speaking, and eating again.   Rainwater, leader of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, took Kayce aside and explains, “You treated him as a victim.  We treat him as a warrior.  He was protecting his family, which is what a warrior does, and he should be proud of his strength, not afraid of it.”

This past week, I have seen many warriors, pint-sized ones, but still warriors. The reporters have told their stories on the news for six days now.  And the stories are mind-boggling, but they are worthy of being told.  Here are a few stories of bravery (I know there are many more!):

The callers.  There were multiple students, who under threat of death, made cell phone calls to 911 and their parents asking for help and reporting on the dire situation. One girl called and said her class was under fire.  It is heartbreaking that she did not survive, but what an act of ultimate courage to make that call in the presence of an active shooter!

The prepared. There was a girl who told a reporter that she knew the school was being shot at.  “How did you know?” he asked.  “A bullet went through the wall,” she matter-of-factly replied.  The reporter then asked, “What did you do?  “I got up and turned out the light, locked the door, and then our class hid under our desks.” What courage to follow her training – she had been in safety drills since kindergarten – and stay calm during a siege!

The runners.  I’ve seen multiple videos on the nightly news of boys and girls hauled out through broken windows by law enforcement.  Once out, the children did not throw themselves on the ground, cry, or collapse from fear.  They ran (and fast I might add).  They ran with a singleness of purpose, strong strides, and I thought, as I watched, good luck anyone trying to catch them.  There was no backward look – only a desire to get to safety.  Think how they had hidden for at least 77 minutes – under desks, in cabinets and closets, behind bookcases.  They had to be stiff and sore, but, boy, did they run!

And finally, the storytellers!  They are the Keepers of our History, the good and the bad at what happened at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022.  They are the ones who witnessed the sacrificial courage of their teachers and the tragedy of their fallen classmates.  They survived to tell the stories! We know so much because they are bravely stepping forth and saying what took place in their midst.  I am so proud of every boy and girl who is willing to tell the whole story of what really happened!   One boy I listened to was so brave and bold in his recounting.  He wanted to be heard.  What courage to remember those events and give voice to the details, no matter how traumatic!  Not everyone has the ability to talk about a tragedy.  These children do!

So to these children — who called, were prepared, determined to get to safety, and willing to share the stories — to you we say, you are warriors!  You stayed focused and strong in order to save your life and the lives of your classmates.  You fought to survive and tell the stories of those who did not.  You are heroes!  You can be proud that you stood strong.  The road to recovery will not be easy, but you will make it with your family by your side and our support and prayers.  Always remember, YOU ARE A WARRIOR … and we are in awe of you!  This 2022 Memorial Day, we thank you for showing us how to be brave.  

We thank you for being #UvaldeStrong.