1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, Welcome to Story Behind podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 2: After Deep Paramedic jumps in and say a seven year 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: old girl after her house cash is on fire. Written 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 2: by MICHAELA. Gordoni, read by Julie provost An. Aftertyp paramedic 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: saves a girl from an extremely dangerous house fire on 10 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving Day in La Thanks to him, the little girl 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 2: only suffered a few minor burns and blisters. The paramedic, 12 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: Richard Russanos, saw ablaze while returning home from spending the 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: holiday with his family. Then he saw a girl standing 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 2: on the porch just feet away from the fire. He 15 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,319 Speaker 2: immediately ran and threw her over his shoulder, bringing her 16 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,319 Speaker 2: to safety across the street, where a woman comforted her. 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: Your mom is coming, Your mom is coming, the woman 18 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: told her. The little girl, Savannah Vasquez, had been upstairs 19 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: waiting for her mom to come home. She told her 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 2: grandmother about the blaze and then ran outside. Considering the circumstances, 21 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: I saw my opportunity for a quick grab and go, 22 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 2: quick exit, and everything went well. Richard said. The guy 23 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: saw me and came running. Savannah said, that's what nice 24 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: people do. Nice people help each other. The events sparked 25 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: Richard's dream of becoming a firefighter. Most of the damage 26 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: was to the exterior of the family's home, which included 27 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 2: a few trees that burned in a vehicle. Got a 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: lot to be thankful for. A neighbor said, I told 29 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: my wife to call nine one one, and I woke 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: up the kids came out here. I banged on the 31 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: door to wake up my neighbors. Their kid, Savannah was 32 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: the first one. He said. At first, I thought it 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: was just my imagination. I'm just standing there for like 34 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: ten seconds. I don't know what to do, Savannah said. 35 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: Then she remembered that her school taught for not to 36 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 2: grab anything and immediately find an exit. Richard just came 37 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: out of nowhere and then helped me get out of 38 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: the fire. Savanna said, my grandmother's car is now like 39 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: a marshmallow. She added, there's a million, badillion, k chillion 40 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: percent grateful. Then her family is okay, because I love 41 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: my family. She says. When a bless seeing several people 42 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: immediately came to the girl's aid. It's a thanksgiving that 43 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: she and the paramedic will never forget. Gary Sinise on 44 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: giving gold Star Families hope through Snowball Express, written by 45 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: Julie Provosts read by Julie Probost. This December, the Garysonese 46 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: Foundation brought more than sixteen hundred Gold Star Families to 47 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: Walt Disney World in Florida for their annual Snowball expressment. 48 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 2: This incredible active kindness brings these families together to not 49 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: only enjoy Disney, but also to reconnect with others who 50 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: understand exactly what they are going through. The Snowball Express 51 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: began back in two thousand and six with a letter 52 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: from a soldier killed in action. US Army Pfc. Jesse 53 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: Gibbons was killed in action while deployed in Iraq in 54 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 2: two thousand and three. He had left a letter for 55 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: his wife instructing her to take the kids to Disneyland 56 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: if anything were to happen to him. Gary Sinese first 57 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: became involved in two thousand and seven when he brought 58 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: his bat the Lieutenant Dan Band, to play for the 59 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: children of fallen service members. What a fantastic gift to 60 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: give to GoldStar families, to provide them with a space 61 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: to have fun, heal, and connect with others who are 62 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: going through the same thing they are. This year, the 63 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: family spent five days of Waltsney World, but everything started 64 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: at airports across the country. American Airlines and volunteers turned 65 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: the terminals into something magical with music and decorations. The 66 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 2: families were warmly welcomed by flight crews, staff, and even 67 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 2: fun loving characters. In a conference room at Disney's Coronado 68 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: Springs resort, there were over six hundred flags honoring service 69 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: members who lost their lives fighting for our country. In 70 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 2: an interview with Fox thirty five Orlando, Gary Sinise shares 71 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 2: about the hope Snowball Express is giving these families. We 72 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: can never do enough for them as far as I'm concerned, 73 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: he shared. In twenty seventeen, the Gary snes Foundation took 74 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: over the Snowball Express. They then went to Walt Disney 75 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: World for the first time in twenty eighteen. Hundreds of 76 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: families started coming. And then we did it again and 77 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: again and again and again. After a musician said, and 78 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: now we're in our twentieth year. Gary hopes the family 79 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: members will have the chance to reach member and heel 80 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: while making lifelong friendships and happy memories at Walt's Day World. 81 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: Amber and Jennifer are just two of the many family 82 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: members who attended the Snowball Express this December. Amber Luster 83 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: father Arthur Rodriguez Junior in two thousand and Jennifer lest 84 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 2: her husband Kyle Andrew Eggers, who wasn't killed in Iraq. 85 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 2: I've met so many other people just like me, Amber shares, 86 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: and I know that I'm not alone even beyond the 87 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: holiday season. There's people out there that love you. And 88 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: we're so blessed that Garry Sinese Foundation disrupts us Ouf 89 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: in Love, Jennifer says. During the Snowball Express, families have 90 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: the opportunity to participate in many amazing events. One of 91 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: them is the Walk of Gratitude at the Magic Kingdom. 92 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: The families went down mainStreet, USA, where cast members applauded 93 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 2: and showed their support. The walk ended at the Castle 94 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: and families shared messages honoring their loved ones. Gary Sinise 95 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: and the Lieutenant Dan Man also performed at Epcot, and 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: the Remembrance Garden is offered as a place for choir Reflection. 97 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: We are grateful to the Gary Sinese Foundation for its 98 00:04:54,640 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: continued support of gold Star Families through this amazing program. 99 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to story Behind podcast. 100 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 101 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 102 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 103 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 104 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. 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