Communities Come Together to Support the Smith Family(A Portrait of Real America)

You Tube ^ | 1/25/14 | TJ Satterfield

[WVNan]

It has been years since I posted anything, but I want this local story to go viral. It's real America we don't hear about that much these days. I hope I'm doing this right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS52-Wx3kiM&feature=share

[WVNan]

Last Saturday morning just down the street from our home another home went down in flames. The family was still sleeping upstairs and the fire originated downstairs. The parents managed barely to escape, but three of their children were trapped and were afraid to jump and instead ran through the fire and were severely burned. It was horrific. The children were taken to the local hospital and were quickly air-lifted to larger hospitals. The 11 yr old boy died that evening and the 26 year old daughter passed away the next day. The other boy (I think about 14) remains in the hospital with severe burns and is clinging to life.

The two communities Point Pleasant, WV and Gallipolis, OH which lie across the Ohio River from one another immediately, upon hearing of the tragedy, jumped into action. I have never seen so many people trying to find some way to help. The Smith family is loved and respected in both communities because of their participation in local sports and music. They have literally lost everything,but the outpouring of love and support from these communities has been a valuable lesson to all of us. Watch the You Tube video and I hope you will help me make it go viral. Americans need to see the real America.

[WVNan]

Okay, so I didn’t manage to activate the link. Somebody?

[WVNan]

What I want to highlight in the video is Noah Smith's speech about 10 minutes in. He is the brother of the man who has lost his children. When this was filmed the total money collected was phenomenal. But also someone donated a newly renovated house and the community has furnished it. Someone gave 7cu ft freezer completely filled with food.

This not all these communities have done. They did this same thing for another family in Gallipolis who also lost their home to fire the next night. Do I live in a great place or what?

[IncPen]

Good comes out of tragedy. We pray that these people find solace in their many friends.

[WVNan]

I just wish that every American of both races could hear Noah’s speech. It was so moving. His and Billy’s father is a preacher, and Billy preaches some also. Lovely family and good neighbors.

[WVNan]

Thanks for cleaning up my mess Jim. I don’t post enough to keep up with the system. Love you.

[WVNan]

Ping

[WVNan]

Ping

[Windflier]

...the total money collected was phenomenal. But also someone donated a newly renovated house and the community has furnished it. Someone gave 7cu ft freezer completely filled with food.

This not all these communities have done. They did this same thing for another family in Gallipolis who also lost their home to fire the next night. Do I live in a great place or what?

God bless these TRUE Americans. You're so blessed to live in a place where the real spirit of our people still lives strong.

I'm sitting here listening to the Top 40 Country hits right now, and it's a poignant soundtrack to your post.

Lord, I miss the country!

[Kathy in Alaska]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3115828/posts

A sad story with some good news....

Communities Come Together to Support the Smith Family (A Portrait of Real America)

[Jet Jaguar]

PIng.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3115828/posts

[Windflier]

...lost his children.

Horrors. As a father of six (living), I can hardly imagine such a thing.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[RedMDer]

Thank you very much for this thread. Its a great reminder to us all of the important things in life.

[txrefugee]

This is the America Obama and Schumer don’t know. They think that the only help in a crisis is to wait for government bureaucrats to shuffle several dozen government forms through the long pipeline and see if there is anything some agency can do.

That has never been the American way. Family, neighbors and church members have always been the mainstays of our way of life.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

WVNan, I live in Gallipolis. To let everyone know these two communities are not well off. There is a lot of poverty in this area. However, it is an outstanding place to raise a family. People are friendly and will give you the shirt off their back.

Gallipolis raise over $10,000 for two members of our Church. One had donated half of his liver to the other. This went a long way in covering all the medical bills.

[Whenifhow]

Ohio Ping - Gallipolis, OH

The Smith family is loved and respected in both communities because of their participation in local sports and music. They have literally lost everything,but the outpouring of love and support from these communities has been a valuable lesson to all of us.

The two communities Point Pleasant, WV and Gallipolis, OH which lie across the Ohio River from one another immediately, upon hearing of the tragedy, jumped into action.

[luvie]

Thanks for the ping! REAL Americans always help each other without the help of government! THAT is the way it should always be!

[BykrBayb]

This is such a moving video. I’ve only seen about the first half, but I’m looking forward to seeing the rest when my chores are done.

[WVNan]

Hi Cowboy. Sorry I'm long getting back to my own thread. It's Sunday, my busy day.

Yes, I know what you mean about the country. After spending so many years in different cities, Miami, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Richmond, Montgomery, Jackson, etc., I was overjoyed to move to this community 20 years ago. Belonging to a rural community is the best possible way of living in America.

Noah Smith made a great speech didn't he. I was so moved by his message to the young people. And then he hugged every one of them on both teams. I have had so many people call and say, "What can I do to help the family?" In the midst of all the tragedy and snow storms, we are hanging together. God bless these communities.