The speech used in the Heatherfield memorial speech is almost word-for-word of what was said during the Joplin Memorial speech a week later on Sunday May 29 TH, 2011. The speech will be in bold and will be in quotation marks to identify the speech part and for credit reasons as the real speech was given by Governor Jay Nixon and Barack Obama. Molloy is the real governor of Connecticut and I am using him and Barack Obama to make the parallel Universe the Guardians live in nearly 100 percent identical to ours with the exception of the 9/11 attacks never taking place, or being attempted, Heatherfield replacing New Haven as a city and weather events occurring in different orders like The Joplin tornado instead occurred in Heatherfield and Hurricane Sandy and Irene never occuring and being replaced by Hurricane Humberto.
Normal POV: What they did not know was that detective Raphael Sylla was watching everything unfold and he saw how Will, Irma and Mark saved those two boys. As they walked through what was left of South side of Downtown Heatherfield, there were no words that could describe the devastation that was seen there. Dead bodies were found alongside the road as the tornado was powerful enough to suck people out of their homes and drop them somewhere else. Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin hid in the basement of Cornelia's house until the tornado passed. As they emerged they found the house a mess. The windows broke, allowing for the strong winds to mess up Cornelia's room as the photos she had of Caleb were ripped off the wall and thrown to the floor. Cornelia also found all her books soaked from the rainwater that came in through the broken windows. The power was out and all cell service was down, (as earlier mentioned with Mark) from the sheer number of worried people trying to call their loved ones and find out if they were ok. Downtown Heatherfield looked like a war-zone. Most of the skyscrapers had nearly all of their windows blown out, while some even had some of their metal frames twisted and one building at least 50 stories high was on the verge of collapse. This tornado was definitely as bad, if not worse than the Joplin tornado of 2011. By 9:00 PM that evening, 5 hours after the tornado struck, a national rescue effort began as first responders from the area, some as far away as the west Coast raced to Heatherfield to save as many people as they could. Then on August 22, ND the next day, all major network channels, including CNN, ABC, MSNBC, FOX NEWS, CBS and even some international news channels such as BBC, Al Jazeera and even RT were broadcasting Governor Molloy's and Barack Obama's memorial speech regarding the Heatherfield tornado crisis. Just before he spoke Governor Molloy introduced Obama to the audience, and here is what he said.
Governor Molloy: "Thank you Pastor Francis. The families of those who were killed and injured, the families of those who are still unaccounted for, to the people of Heatherfield who've endured this terrible tragedy. To the thousands of people of Connecticut and people across the nation who've opened their hearts to help us heal. To the hundreds of firefighters and emergency responders who came without hesitation to climb over piles of rubble in search of our survivors. To Pastor Francis, Pastor Jacob, Father Michaels, Lieutenant Colonel Taylor and the wonderful choir of the first United Methodist Church of Heatherfield, to President Obama who's with us today. Thank you all for coming. It is an honor to be here, joining the thousands of my fellow Connecticut people observing this special day of prayer.
We stand on hallowed ground to the bear witness to the destructive nature of the power of nature and the invincible power of faith. We have come to mourn what the storm has taken from us, to seek comfort and community, to draw strength from god to build anew. It seems inconceivable that just yesterday the people of Heatherfield were going about their daily lives, doing ordinary things people do on a Monday afternoon, commuting home from work and school, and kids doing their homework, walking their dog and attending their son's and daughter's graduation. And then came the whirlwind, nearly two miles wide and thirty miles long with its 300 Mile Per Hour winds, churning and roaring, tossing cars and toppling trees, pounding homes, businesses, schools and churches to rubble. But that storm, the likes of which we have never seen has brought forward a spirit of resilience, the likes of which we have also never seen. What our nation and the world have witnessed this week is the spirit of Heatherfield, Connecticut. We are humbled by it. You have given love thy neighbor new meaning.
The parable of a good Samaritan in Luke 10 verses 25 through 37 begins with a conversation between Jesus and a student of religious law. It starts with a legal question and ends with a moral imperative. The asked Jesus, what shall I do to inherit internal life? And Jesus turns the question around and asks, what is written in the law? And the student who is well versed in the Talmud in the Torah replies, Thou shall love the lord, thy god with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, with all thy mind and thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. And Jesus replies, Thou has answered right, this do and thou shall live. But then the student wanting greater clarity then the law provided asked Jesus, and who is my neighbor? And Jesus tells him, the story of the good Samaritan. From that parable our charges crystal clear. Good Samaritans do not pass by those who are suffering and in need. They show their compassion with action. In Heatherfield you see good Samaritans everywhere you turn. You see them in the gym at this university where hundreds of volunteers make sandwiches each and every day. You see them passing out blankets and pillows, sunscreen and flashlights to the neighbors made homeless by the whirlwind. You need a flashlight, cause it gets pretty dark here at night. Especially when you are standing in the street staring at the lonely pile of matchsticks that was once your family's home.
If you have been in the ER at Saint Francis Heatherfield General Hospital Medical Center yesterday Last Sunday evening, there were moments after the tornado struck you would have seen good Samaritans rushing frantically to reach the wounded and the dying. Shattered glass and bleeding patients everywhere. Water and gas spewing from burst pipes. One doctor stumbled through the darkness with a flashlight in his teeth following the wail of a wounded child. You see good Samaritans at every checkpoint in the destruction zone where police officers and citizen soldiers of our Connecticut national Guard keep watch over wet socks, teddy bears cherished wedding photos and crumpled wheelchairs; all that is left of our neighbor's worldly goods. You seem them in the churchyard, sleeping men sleeping on cots under the stars after driving all night to get here from Charlotte. These men were so touched, so moved by the kindness of strangers in their hour of need, but they just had to come to Heatherfield. Good Samaritans on a mission from god. God has chosen us for a mission too; to grieve together, to comfort one another, to be patient with one another, to strengthen one another and to build Heatherfield anew. Not to just build back to the way it was, but to make it at even better place.
We know all those who perished here are already in an even better place. But for us the living, there is work to do. God says show me, show me. People of Connecticut were born for this mission. We are famously stubborn, self-reliant, practical, and impatient, but whatever may divide us, we always come together in crisis. And once we set our resolve no storm, no fire, no flood can turn us from our task. In the pale, hushed stillness before dawn, when the chainsaws have fallen silent if you listen very closely you can hear the sound of that resolve. Like a tiny silver hammer tapping, tapping, tapping inside each of our heads.
In the days to come the satellite trucks will pack up and leave town and move on, Heatherfield's story will disappear from the front pages, but the tragedy will not disappear from our lives. We will still be here in Heatherfield, together preparing for the long journey out of darkness into the light. And we will need more hands, more tools, more good Samaritans every step of the way. This tragedy has changed us forever, this community will never be the same, we will never be the same. The grief we share at this moment is overwhelming. That sorrow will always be a part of us, a stone upon our hearts. But those we love, those we lost are safe with god. And safe in our hearts. And in our hearts the joy they gave us lives on and on. Nothing can take that from us. We can and we will heal. We've already begun Together we can and we will rebuild upon a granite foundation of faith. What we build on this hallowed ground will be a living monument to those we lost; mothers, mothers, our precious children. It will be a monument to the will and determination of the hundreds of men, women and yes even children who helped their neighbors dig out of the ruins. A monument to the search and rescue crews who came swiftly to aid the quick and the dead.
By god's grace we will restore this community and by god's grace we will renew our souls. One year from today, Heatherfield will look different and more different still in two years, three years and five. As the years pass the moral of our story will be the same, love thy neighbor. God bless.
Before he takes the podium, I would like to thank President Obama for his tireless efforts to send resources to communities from Heatherfield to Danbury and New York City, and all across our country. And the communities across the nation who are struggling to recover in the aftermath of deadly storms and floods, the weight on your shoulders is heavy. We will continue to need that help in the months and years to come. On behalf of all of the people of my great state, we thank you for your service to our country".
Barack Obama: "Thank you so much, please, please be seated. I love Heatherfield, I love Heatherfield, We love Heatherfield. Thank you governor for that powerful message, but more importantly for being here with and for your people every step of the way. We are grateful to you to Reverend Michaels, Father Jacob I'm so glad you got in that tub. To reverend Smith for that incredibly powerful message. To Senator Murphy who's been here and Congressman Joe Courtney, Mayor Brown, to Craig Fugate, who doesn't get a lot of attention but he heads up FEMA, our emergency response at the federal level. He has been going from Wilmington, to Heatherfield and everywhere in between tirelessly doing outstanding work. We are grateful to him. Gail McGovern, the President of the National Red Cross, which has contributed vitally to the rebuilding efforts here. Most of all to the family and friends to all those who have been lost, and all those who have been affected. Today we gather to celebrate the lives of those who we've lost to the storms here in Heatherfield and across the Northeast.
To keep in our prayers those still missing, to mourn with their families, to stand together during this time of pain and trial. And as Reverend Smith alluded to, the question that weighs on us at a time like this is why? Why our town? Why our home? Why my Son, my husband, or wife, or sister, or friend? Why? We do not have the capacity to answer. We can't know when a terrible storm will strike or where, or the severity of the devastation that it may cause. We can't know why we're tested. With the loss of a loved one, or a home lived a lifetime. These things are beyond our power to control, but that does not mean we are powerless in the face of adversity. How we respond when the storm strikes is up to us. How we live in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache, that's within our control. And it's in these moments through our actions that we often see the glimpse of what makes life worth living in the first place. In the last couple of days, that's not what Heatherfield has taught Connecticut, not just taught America, but has taught the world. I was overseas in the aftermath of the storm and we had world leaders coming up to me saying, Let the people of Heatherfield know we with them, we're thinking about them, we love them. Because the world saw how Heatherfield responded. A school turns itself into a makeshift hospital. Some of you used your pickup trucks as ambulances, carrying the injured on doors that served as stretchers, your restaurants rushed food to people in need, businesses filled trucks with donations. You've waited in line for hours to donate blood to people you know, but also to people you never met.
And in all this you have lived the words of scripture. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed. As the Governor said, we have shown the world to love thy neighbor. You have banded together, you've come to each others aid. You've demonstrated a simple truth that in heartbreak and tragedy, no one is a stranger, everybody is a brother, everybody is a sister. We can all love one another. As you move forward in the days ahead, I know that rebuilding what you've lost won't be easy. I just walked through some of the neighborhoods that have been affected and you look out at the landscape. There had to be moments where you say, where to begin? How to start? There are going to be moments where after the shock has worn off you feel alone. But there is no doubt in my mind what the people in this community can do. There is no doubt in my mind that Heatherfield will rebuilt and as President I can promise you country will be there with you every single step of the way. We will be with you every step of the way. We are not going anywhere! The cameras may leave, the spotlight may shift, but we will be with you every step of the way until Heatherfield is restored and this community is back on its feet, we are going anywhere! That is not just my promise, its America's promise. It's a promise I made here in Heatherfield and it's a promise I made in Charlotte or any of the communities that have been hit by these devastating storms over the last few days. Now, there have been countless acts of kindness and selflessness since yesterday afternoon. You already heard the records of some of that.
But perhaps none are as inspiring as what took place when the storm was bearing down on Heatherfield, threatening an entire community with utter destruction and in the face of winds that showed no mercy or regard for human life that did not discriminate by race, or faith, or background. Those ordinary people swiftly tested who said I am willing to die right now so that someone else might live. It was the husband who threw himself over his wife as their house fell apart around them. It was the mother who shielded her young son. It was Frank Sullivan, a husband and father who loved to sing and whistle in his church choir. Sullivan was working a shift at the Home Depot, managing the electrical department, when the siren rang out. He sprang into action, moving people to safety. Over and Over again he went back to others, until a wall came down on top of him. In the end most of the building was destroyed, but not where Frank had directed his co-workers and his customers.
There was a young man named Bob Francis who was 26 years old, father of 2 daughters, 3 RD daughter on the way. Just like any other night, Bob was doing his job as manager at Pizza Hut. Then he heard the storm coming. It was then when this former sailor rushed everybody into a walk-in freezer. The only problem was that the freezer door wouldn't stay closed from the inside, so as the tornado bore down on this small storefront on North Main street, Bob left the freezer to find a rope or a cord, anything to hold the door shut. He made it back just in time, tying a piece of bungee cord to the handle outside, wrapping the other end around his arm holding the door closed with all his might. Bob held it as long as he could, until he was pulled away by the incredible force of the storm. He died, saving more than a dozen people in that freezer. You see? There are heroes all around us, all the time. They walk by us on the sidewalk, they sit next to us in class, they pass us in the in the isle wearing an orange apron, They come to our table in a and ask us what we would like to order. Just as we can't know why tragedy strikes in the first place, we may never fully understand where these men and woman find the courage and strength to do what they did. What we do know is that in a split second moment, where there is little time for internal reflection or debate, the actions of these individuals was driven by love. Love for a family member, love for a friend, or just love for a fellow human being. That's good to know that in a world that can be cruel and selfish it's this knowledge, the knowledge that we inclined to love one another. That we're inclined to do good to be good. That causes us to do good. We see with fresh eyes what's precious and so fragile and so important to us, we put aside our petty grievances, our minor disagreements, we see ourselves in the hopes and hardships of others. And in the stories of people like Sullivan and people like Bob. We remember that each of us contains reserves of resolve and compassion. There are heroes all around us, all the time. And so, in the wake of this tragedy let us live up to their example to make each day count, to live with a sense of mutual regard. To live with that same compassion that they demonstrated in their final hours. You're called by them to do everything we can to be worthy of the chance we've been given to carry on. I understand that earlier today at a memorial for Bob, his wife decided to play a recording of Bob whistling the song he loved, amazing grace. The lyrics are a fitting tribute to what Heatherfield has been through. Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, it's grace that has brought me thus far and grace will lead me , when our heart shall fail and mortal life shall cease I shall possess within the bail a life of joy and peace. May those we lost know peace may grace guide the people of Heatherfield home. God bless you and god bless the United States of America, thank you".
Will's POV: After the President's speech I broke down into tears when I heard that he was talking about Bob from Pizza hut. Bob always gave us over to volunteer and he would give us free pizzas for volunteering at his restaurant. I couldn't believe that he was dead. Irma, Cornelia and Hay Lin all came to my house because they lost power, Cornelia's house had serious structural damage and their roof was ripped of their building, but other than that their building was completely intact. Now the tornado was gone, but we now had to prepare for Hurricane Humberto which was now only 36 hours away from hitting us. After we finished watching TV we washed up, changed into our PJ's and went to bed. The following we woke up to the sounds of electric drills going off and people were boarding up their windows in preparation for Hurricane Humberto. The weather was already beginning to deteriorate as a blustery wind and a light rain began to fall first thing that morning. Mark told me he was heading to the Un-destroyed Home Depot in Northern Heatherfield.
Mark's POV: As Will and I left using Susan's car. Will sat on the passenger's seat riding shotgun and I was driving the car. I could tell the storm was coming closer since rain was coming down pretty hard and the wind was blowing at least 25-35 MPH sustained from the East-Northeast and the temperature was 76 degrees. After driving for 20 minutes I could see the Home Depot. As I pulled in to the parking lot, there was no parking at all. The entire lot was jammed pack with cars and a Home Depot employee told me to leave my car here because the loading area was now designated for parking. When we went inside the Home Depot, it was so packed in the plywood section that we had to wait 30 minutes in line just to pick up plywood. Luckily, the line for batteries, water and flashlights wasn't as bad. To save time we split up and agreed to meet at the register was our shopping was done. After spending 30 minutes at Home Depot we decided to go back to Will's house. On the way there traffic was really smooth, mostly due to the majority of the people evacuating because of the tornado and Hurricane Humberto. On the way home I was going to make a right on Main Street. While waiting at the light for the turn light to turn green, a Chevy Aveo a car in similar size to ours lost control on the slick pavement and crashed into the rear of my car sending me into the middle of Main Street. I was just about to move my car, when I saw an 18 wheeler come right at me from the Left. The last thing I remember is a loud crash and everything going dark, then I found my great-grandmother and other deceased family members.
My great grandmother told me "Mark, what are you doing here, it's not your time yet".
I said, "But please I don't feel any pain or misery here".
She told me "Your friends need you, and most of all the very survival of the Earth depends on you and your friends, the Guardians. Speaking of which, your friend Will is trying to save you now".
I told her "I will miss you very much and Don't worry Mark we will meet again when your time comes".
Then I felt sharp pains coming from my heart and chest and the next think I remember is waking on the ground and Will shouting" Please let this work, please don't die on me, I love you Mark and she planted a kiss on my lips"!
\When she saw me open my eyes, her eyes flooded with tears and she hugged me and kissed me on the lips again, crying as she said, "thank god you're alright, I thought I lost you".
I told Will, "You will never believe what just happened to me! I just went to Heaven and met my long deceased great-grandmother Bertha as she said her name was. However, my parents never told me about her, since she died over 20 years ago. She told me it is not my time and that we will meet again when the time comes; Will did my heart stop"?
Will told me, "Yes your heart stopped for 10 minutes and I was sure you're were dead! Mark don't you ever die on me again"! She the last part with a bit of laughter.
By the time the EMS arrived I was up on my feet and all of my injuries have miraculously healed, probably due to Will using the heart to heal me while she was reviving me with her powers. The EMS still took me and Will to the E.R. We were given a checkup, but Will opened her big mouth and said, "His heart failed for 10 minutes While I had to use the defibrillator on him 5 times to start his heart". Upon hearing that the E.R. staff gave me an EKG (Electrocardiogram) and they told me that there is no damage to my heart.
They even gave me a brainwave scan and they told me and Will "No sign of brain damage and all brainwave activity is above normal". They even gave me an IQ test and my usual IQ is 120-130 and after the test that very day the person in charge of the IQ results came and told me that "Your IQ results are extremely impressive, in a matter of fact I haven't seen numbers this high in my entire 10 year career".
I seriously thought she was joking until I saw my IQ results. My IQ results where 275. I was sure there was a mistake, but it could possibly be that by dying and then being revived by Will's lightning, some of the previously unused brain cells and neurons were getting activated.
Will called her mom and Will told her, "We had a nasty car accident, but we are fine, but at the accident Mark's heart failed and I had to use my powers to revive him, other than that we are both fine mom". Mrs. Vandom said, "Dad and I will be there in 15 minutes".
On the way to the hospital Susan and Dean saw the accident site which caused Susan to break down into tears for me, thinking I was seriously injured or injured from how bad the driver's side looked. When she got to the hospital and only expecting to pick up Will and not me either because she thought I died or was to injured to go home.
When she arrived at the E.R. to pick Will up, I went up to Mrs. Vandom and Mr. Collins. Mrs. Vandom, she bursts into tears and told me "I thought I lost you and Will"!
I told her: "You know Will saved my life using her electric powers, my heart failed and I even saw the light and even deceased family members I never met or heard of".
When Mrs. Vandom saw Will she ran up to Will, crying as she said, "Will thank heavens you're OK, I thought I lost you both. And by the way I am so proud of you for saving his life".
I walked up to Susan and told her "Mrs. Vandom, I am so sorry about what happened; I hope I can pay you back for this". She told me "Nonsense, Mark! I spoke to the police and the guy who hit you from behind had is brakes fail, plus the slippery roads added to him losing control of his car and my insurance will cover everything and my rates won't go up since it wasn't your fault . That does it, from now on I am buying a Subaru, no more two wheel drive cars for us"!