[00:06.62]In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.
[00:17.74]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,
[00:26.77]only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.
[00:32.21]After the initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son,
[00:37.77]“No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you!”
[00:41.91]And tears began to fill his eyes.
[00:44.73]As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless,
[00:50.62]but he kept remembering his commitment to his son.
[00:53.67]He began to direct his attention towards where he walked his son to class at school each morning.
[00:59.87]Remembering his son’s classroom would be in the back right corner of the building,
[01:05.10]he rushed there and started digging through the ruins.
[01:08.91]As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying, “My son!” “My daughter!”
[01:16.97]Other well-meaning parents tried to pull him off what was left of the school, saying, “It’s too late!
[01:22.85]They’re all dead! You can’t help! Go home! Come on, face reality!”
[01:29.05]To each parent he responded with one line, “Are you going to help me now?”
[01:34.51]And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone.
[01:39.29]The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school’s ruins saying,
[01:43.65]“Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere.
[01:47.14]You’re in danger. We’ll take care of it. Go home.”
[01:49.96]To which this loving, caring American father asked, “Are you going to help me now?”
[01:56.39]The police came and said, “You’re endangering others. Go home. We’ll handle it!”
[02:01.39]To which he replied, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.
[02:08.37]He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...then, at the 38th hour,
[02:18.17]he pulled back a large stone and heard his son’s voice.
[02:21.87]He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad!?! It’s me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry.
[02:31.34]I told them that if you were alive, you’d save me and when you saved me, they’d be saved.
[02:38.12]You promised, ‘No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you!’ You did it, Dad!”
[02:44.68]“Come out, boy!”
[02:47.42]“No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, cause I know you’ll get me!
[02:52.89]No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!”
