When the heat was on — literally — 16-year-old Tyler Sowden didn’t hesitate. As flames tore through a nearby home, the brave Cleveland teen sprang into action, helping to rescue a family from the burning house before first responders arrived. While the community, local firefighters, and the family he saved praised his selfless act, Tyler was glad he could make a difference and that everyone was safe. “I was glad that I was there because it could have really gone wrong,” said the hometown hero. On the afternoon of the fire, Tyler could see smoke and hear cries for help from a home about 10 houses away. Without hesitation, he rushed to the garage for a ladder and raced toward the danger. A woman with her baby and a young child frantically screamed out from the roof as the smoke billowed out of a window behind her. Tyler climbed the ladder and took the baby in his arms. He carried the infant to safety before returning for the mother and her child. This young hero arrived just in the nick of time. In less than a minute after he had gotten the family to the ground, flames engulfed the home. The teen said he felt like he was in the right place at the right time, and the construction work he does with his stepfather prepared him for this moment. Though he risked his life, Tyler didn’t see the true impact of his actions until he spoke to the family he saved. “It was God who used him like an angel to save our lives,” said the mother, Judith Avila Padilla. Padilla said that afternoon, she and her three children awoke to the smoke. After her oldest son jumped to safety, she carried her other two children onto the roof. She’s forever grateful to the teen. The Cleveland Division of Fire arrived moments after the rescue and praised Tyler’s bravery and quick thinking. They said he could have a bright future as a firefighter one day. IN THE FACE OF FIRE Local Teen Becomes a Hero in a Blaze of Bravery
Festive national holidays offer a great opportunity to strengthen family ties and
traditions. While most people regard the end-of-year holidays as prime time for family get-togethers, you can make great memories in any season — including the Fourth of July! To foster traditions your loved ones will enjoy, start when your children are young. Repeat your chosen rituals year after year, but stay flexible enough to update them to suit your kids’ developmental stages. Emphasize Live Action Activities that immerse your children in sights, sounds, smells, and live action can be the most memorable. Community Fourth of July parades offer a great opportunity to socialize with neighbors and friends of all ages. To make memories, don’t just watch the parade — encourage your kids to join it! Midsummer is a great time to participate in light-hearted three-legged races, an egg toss, and sack races. As kids age, consider holding a Fourth of July Family Bowl for an annual game of soccer, softball, or touch football. At day’s end, fireworks offer a chance to gather in a lawn chair or on a blanket in the grass and enjoy some favorite snacks. Capitalize on Family Foibles Think about traditions that evoke some quirk or twist unique to your family. If your kids love water balloons, a red, white, and blue water balloon fight can leave them laughing. Your family’s favorite films about patriotism or national identity may include fantasy tales, such as the animated 1986 immigrants’ story “An American Tail,” or darker stories, such as “Born on the Fourth of July,” the 1989 film on a Vietnam vet’s struggles after the war. Whatever your preference, watching a beloved movie together as a family can reinforce shared values. For maximum fun, ban cellphones and make lots of popcorn. Make It Matter Decorating your house and yard with flags, red-white-and-blue bunting, and patriotic pinwheels can help children get into the spirit. To create a tangible memoir, take photos of the fun and print them for an album or deposit them in a “Fourth of July Memory Jar.” When you pull them out next year, those images will spark plenty of laughs!
Though the teen’s heroism has been celebrated far and wide, he’s glad he could help and is seriously considering becoming a firefighter.
“I didn’t really have a plan until this kind of happened,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Maybe that’s a sign.’”
2 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com
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